Children at daycare

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Northampton, MA

Compare 3 child daycare & preschools in Northampton. Average rating: 4.44/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Northampton, Massachusetts at a glance

Programs
3
Avg rating
4.44/5
Parent reviews
22
Top rated (4.5+)
3

Northampton has 3 licensed child daycare & preschools with 22 parent reviews averaging 4.44/5.The highest-rated options cluster around the 01060 zip code, averaging 4.42 stars across 8 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Northampton

Ranked using a weighted score that combines Google rating with the number of parent reviews — daycares with more reviews rank higher than those with a high rating but few reviews. Last updated: March 2026.

  1. 1
    Smith Child Care Center At Sunnyside
    4.69 score
    5(11)

    557 Easthampton Road, Northampton, MA · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 70 children

    Smith Child Care Center at Sunnyside is a highly-rated school-based daycare in Northampton that parents consistently praise for its nurturing environment, caring staff, and strong sense of community. The parent co-op model fosters active family involvement and meaningful relationships among families. Children are reported to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally in a diverse, stimulating setting.

    Caring and warm teachersprofessional and dedicated staffbeautiful facility with ample indoor and outdoor spacestrong emphasis on diversity and inclusion
  2. 2
    Smith College Center For Early Childhood Education
    4.25 score
    4.5(5)

    28 Lyman Rd, Northampton, MA · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 87 children

    Smith College Center for Early Childhood Education receives mostly positive reviews praising teacher quality, individualized attention, and strong art and music programs. However, one parent reported their child struggled with large class sizes and felt their concerns were not adequately addressed.

    Highly responsive teachersstrong individualized supportexcellent art and music programsgood teacher-child ratios

Rating Distribution

Based on 5 daycares with Google ratings in Northampton

4.5 - 5.0
3
4.0 - 4.4
1
3.0 - 3.9
1
Below 3
0

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Northampton, based on parent reviews

Before or After School Daycare

4.75avg rating
5 daycares · 2 rated

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.23avg rating
3 daycares · 3 rated

Church Daycare

No ratings yet
1 daycares

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Northampton zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
010608
4.42
2

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Northampton (30–158 children)

Small

up to 30 children

1

Medium

31–75 children

6

Large

76–150 children

1

Very Large

150+ children

1

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Northampton based on parent reviews

Meadowlark Child Care Center

5(2)

283 Prospect St, Northampton, MA

Peoples Institute Child Care

4(3)

38 Gothic St, Northampton, MA

One parent highlights improved security and organization under new leadership, while another appreciates the staff's kindness despite the building's poor condition. A third review alleges systemic corruption, including the misdiagnosis of children for financial gain and allegations of emotional and physical mistreatment.

dedicated and kind teachersimproved security measuresautomated check-in and online payment

Community Action @ Vernon St.

3.7(1)

56 Vernon St, Northampton, MA

Map

Daycare types in Northampton

Child Daycare & Preschools 3Church Daycare 1Before or After School Daycare 5

Child Daycare & Preschools in Northampton, Massachusetts

There are 3 child daycare & preschools in Northampton, Massachusetts, making up 33% of the 9 total childcare facilities in the city. Below you'll find a complete directory to help you compare and choose the right daycare for your child.

Based on Google reviews, daycares in Northampton have an average rating of 4.44 out of 5 across 5 rated facilities, with 60% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Before or After School Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.75 stars. Our analysis covers 22 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Northampton, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.

All Child Daycare & Preschools in Northampton

Showing 3 results

Meadowlark Child Care Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
5
Address
283 Prospect St, Northampton, MA
Phone
(413) 586-1951
Peoples Institute Child Care
Child Daycare & Preschools
4

One parent highlights improved security and organization under new leadership, while another appreciates the staff's kindness despite the building's poor condition. A third review alleges systemic corruption, including the misdiagnosis of children for financial gain and allegations of emotional and physical mistreatment.

dedicated and kind teachersimproved security measuresautomated check-in and online payment
Address
38 Gothic St, Northampton, MA
Phone
(413) 584-8313
Community Action @ Vernon St.
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.7
Address
56 Vernon St, Northampton, MA
Phone
(413) 387-1240

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Frequently asked questions

There are 3 child daycare & preschools daycares in Northampton, Massachusetts, out of 9 total childcare facilities in the city. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in Northampton have an average Google rating of 4.44 out of 5 across 5 rated facilities. About 60% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Northampton, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with Massachusetts's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Massachusetts)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Northampton offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 3 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 1 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 5 facilities
Each type serves different needs — center-based facilities typically offer structured programs, while head start programs are federally funded for low-income families.
Daycare costs in Massachusetts typically range from $200 to $400 per week for full-time care, depending on the child's age, facility type, and location within the state. Infant care tends to be more expensive due to lower staff-to-child ratio requirements. Contact individual facilities in Northampton for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Northampton must be licensed by Massachusetts's childcare licensing agency. Licensed facilities are required to meet standards for safety, health, staff qualifications, and staff-to-child ratios. You can verify a facility's license status through your state's licensing database.