When rates vary in a neighbourhood it makes sense that what is the price is one of the first questions. Parents go on the assumption that other things are equal. It is when they start the actual interview process that they realize there are just as many ways of doing things as there are caregivers. With anything we do we start to group things and whether we like it or not price sells - any business knows that. So starting with the lowest range of caregivers for interviews makes sense to parents and then moving up the groupings till they find what they want. When you shop for a house you set a price range and no matter how wonderful that house at a few thousand more is you have to content yourself with what is in your price range in most cases. I know a child isn't a house but you wouldn't pay more for a car at one place when a perfectly respectable dealership next door had the same car for cheaper either.