If you’re hiring a home caregiver for a loved one in 2026, what state you live in may determine a lot about how much you’ll pay.

Families paid a median of $34 an hour for a home caregiver in the U.S. last year, according to an annual report by A Place for Mom, an assisted care and senior living comparison site. That’s up 3% from a year ago.

Many families assume Medicare will cover long-term senior living—in general, it doesn’t. According to Tatyana Zlotsky, CEO of A Place for Mom, “that realization often comes at the worst possible moment: during a health event, a hospital discharge, or a sudden decline.” Zlotsky added that families often “don’t accurately estimate or understand the costs of each type of care and what they include.”

A Coast-to-Coast Price Check on Home Care

The national median masks enormous state-by-state swings. Mississippi families pay $25 an hour for home care. In South Dakota, the same service costs $44.

High-cost states like California and New York don’t even crack the top five. Instead, the priciest states include South Dakota, Vermont, Montana, Minnesota, and Washington—places where thin labor pools and rural geography push caregiver wages higher.

On the affordable end, the South dominates. Alabama and Louisiana both sit at $26 per hour, while Mississippi, West Virginia and Arkansas round out the bottom five.

More Demand, Fewer Workers, Higher Bills

Three forces are pushing up the pricing of at-home care.

Workforce shortages keep pushing caregiver wages up; there aren’t enough workers to meet demand from a rapidly aging population. Inflation has raised operating expenses—food, insurance, transportation—that agencies pass along to families. And post-pandemic demand has tightened the market, giving agencies less reason to compete on price.

The 3% year-over-year jump in home care costs outpaced the broader consumer price index. And home care isn’t the only category climbing. Assisted living rose 4.4% to $5,419 a month; memory care jumped 3.7% to $6,690 a month.

For families weighing home care versus these kinds of facilities, Zlotsky noted “there is a threshold when full-time home care can be more expensive than senior living, especially in some of the lower-cost states.”

Stop Guessing, Start Comparing

The biggest risk isn’t a high hourly rate but not knowing the rate until an emergency hits. Only 18% of people say they understand care costs well, according to A Place for Mom data. About one-third reported they paid more than they expected after a move.

“What surprises many families is that the monthly rate you see advertised is just the starting point,” Zlotsky said. As care needs increase, additional services can raise costs faster than expected.

Lily Vittayarukskul, founder of long-term care planning platform Water Lily, built her company after watching her own family navigate a relative’s terminal illness without a plan.

“I saw intimately firsthand a lot of the core devastating effects of not talking about the topic ahead of time, on both your finances, your family, your familial relationships, but honestly, your quality of life that you get by not doing the planning,” she said.

Start planning by benchmarking your state. If you’re in a state where the median sits near or above $40 per hour, build your budget at the higher end. If you’re in the South or Midwest, rates in the mid-$20s to low-$30s are typical, but limited supply in some rural markets can still push costs above the median.

Compare several agencies before signing. Hourly rates reflect starting prices, but actual costs vary by the type of care (companion care vs. skilled nursing), hours per week, and whether you need overnight or weekend coverage. Ask about rate increases, too: with costs climbing 3% annually, your starting rate won’t be your rate a year from now.

“Start the conversation before a crisis forces it,” Zlotsky said. “Even one honest conversation this week can make a meaningful difference later.”

How Much Cash Americans Keep in the Bank—And Where You Stand

Ever wondered how your bank balance compares to others? Federal Reserve data reveals what savings a typical American has by age, household type, and education.

According to the Fed’s Survey of Consumer Finances, the median amount held in bank accounts across all American households in 2022 (the most recent data available) was $8,000. This amount is in transaction accounts, which include checking, savings, money market, and brokerage cash accounts, as well as prepaid debit cards. (Certificates of deposit and retirement accounts are not part of this grouping.) 

But that $8,000 figure only tells part of the story. Median balances vary widely by age, household type, and education.

Bank Balances by Age: How Do You Compare?

The Federal Reserve looks at multiple age groups in its survey: 

• Under 35
• 35-44
• 45-54
• 55-64
• 65-74
• 75 or older

In the most recent survey (2022), more than 98% of Americans across every age group reported having money in bank accounts. But median balances varied sharply by age. For instance, those under 35 had a median of $5,400, while Americans 75 and older held a median of $10,000.

Bank Balances by Household Type: Where Do You Fall?

In its survey, the Fed uses five breakdowns for family structure: 

• Single With Child(ren)
• Single, No Child, Age <55
• Single, No Child, Age >=55
• Couple With Child(ren)
• Couple, No Child

Bank account median values varied widely between singles and couples. In 2022, single adults over 55 with no children had the highest median balance among individuals ($4,300). For couples, those without children held the highest median balance ($16,000).

Bank Balances by Education Level: How Do You Stack Up?

The Fed survey includes four options for education level: 

• No High School Diploma
• High School Diploma
• Some College
• College Degree

Survey results suggest a strong link between educational level and median bank balances, much more than age or family structure. High school graduates reported median savings more than three times higher than those without a diploma. College graduates had over four times the median balance of those with some college education but no degree.

Want a Bigger Bank Balance? Open a High-Yield Account

However much cash you have in the bank, it’s smart to make sure it’s earning more for you. Putting some money into a high-yield savings account, money market account, or certificate of deposit (CD) can help boost your savings balances. 

A high-yield savings account is among the easiest places to deposit your money, giving you access to your cash anytime you need it. Because the annual percentage yield (APY) from different banks varies widely, look for one that works for you. Our list of the best high-yield savings accounts includes several options that pay at least 4.02% APY, with the best rate being 5.00% APY. Just be aware that rates on savings accounts are variable, meaning the bank can change your APY at any time without warning.

Money market accounts are similar to savings accounts and offer check-writing abilities. If that’s an important feature for you, you can check out the best money market accounts—and several currently offer APYs of 3.20% or better, with a top rate of 4.00% APY. But as with savings accounts, money market APYs can change.

If you don’t need to access your money immediately, a certificate of deposit (CD) is a safe option with a big perk: a fixed rate that you can lock in for months or years. Your bank or credit union will guarantee a set APY for terms generally ranging from 3 months to 5 years in exchange for you keeping your money in the CD. You’re able to determine now how much money you’ll earn when the CD matures, and some of the best CD rates—now up to 4.50% APY—are good into 2026 or beyond, regardless of what happens to interest rates in the short term. Just be sure to pick your term carefully, as you’ll be hit with an early withdrawal penalty if you cash out before the maturity date.