Brookfield vs Glen William, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Brookfield and Glen William are both Dungog rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 47.4 km and 46.9 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Brookfield runs $331 a year cheaper than Glen William, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,795.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,800, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Glen William
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Brookfield | Glen William | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,712 | $1,712 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,750 | $6,781 | -$31 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,750 | $6,781 | -$31 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,850 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,389 | $11,720 | -$331 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,389 | $11,720 | -$331 |
Totals exclude electricity, estimated separately below. Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance estimated from ACCC premium rates; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Brookfield | Glen William | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,827 | $2,827 | - |
| Unit | $2,369 | $2,369 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for each suburb's electricity network, including supply charge (AER Default Market Offer caps, or the QCA price in regional Queensland; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown, Brookfield vs Glen William (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Brookfield and Glen William differ by $331 a year by car, but $300 of that is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On the sourced costs, council rates, water and the commute, the gap is $31, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Glen William carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $331 per year, $11,389 from Brookfield versus $11,720 from Glen William.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,712 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Brookfield by $31 a year, $6,750 against $6,781.
- Building insurance favours Brookfield by $300 a year, $1,550 against $1,850.
Both suburbs sit in the same council area, so the rates line is identical and none of the difference between them comes from council. What separates them is commute distance and the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated medium in Glen William against low in Brookfield, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Brookfield cumulative | Glen William cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,389 | $11,720 | $331 |
| Year 3 | $35,202 | $36,225 | $1,023 |
| Year 5 | $60,466 | $62,223 | $1,757 |
| Year 10 | $130,562 | $134,357 | $3,795 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brookfield or Glen William cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Brookfield runs $11,389 a year by car and Glen William $11,720, but most of the $331 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $31. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Brookfield and Glen William?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,712 in Brookfield (Dungog rates (OLG) and $1,712 in Glen William (Dungog rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Brookfield and $1,377 in Glen William. Both figures are the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by each council's IPART rate peg.
How does the commute cost compare between Brookfield and Glen William?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,750 from Brookfield and $6,781 from Glen William to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Brookfield and Glen William?
At 3% annual cost growth, Brookfield costs a cumulative $130,562 and Glen William costs $134,357 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,795 in favour of Brookfield. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Brookfield and Glen William suits you better?
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Sources: Dungog rates (OLG and Dungog rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.