Castle Hill vs North Ward, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Castle Hill and North Ward are both Townsville City Council suburbs, sitting 1.8 km and 1.5 km from Townsville CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $299 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,400, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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North Ward
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Castle Hill | North Ward | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,343 | $1,343 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,099 | $2,099 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $615 | $514 | +$101 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $3,750 | $4,150 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $3,200 | $3,500 | -$300 |
| Total (driving) | $7,807 | $8,106 | -$299 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,384 | $7,784 | -$400 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Castle Hill | North Ward | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,373 | $2,373 | - |
| Unit | $1,945 | $1,945 | - |
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, Castle Hill vs North Ward (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Castle Hill and North Ward differ by $299 a year by car, but $400 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 $101, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,384 from Castle Hill versus $7,784 from North Ward.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,343 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,099 a year.
- Driving commute favours North Ward by $101 a year, $514 against $615.
- Building insurance favours Castle Hill by $400 a year, $3,750 against $4,150.
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.
The catchment state school scores 7.4 in Castle Hill against 4.2 in North Ward, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Castle Hill cumulative | North Ward cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,807 | $8,106 | $299 |
| Year 3 | $24,131 | $25,055 | $924 |
| Year 5 | $41,448 | $43,036 | $1,588 |
| Year 10 | $89,499 | $92,926 | $3,427 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Castle Hill or North Ward cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Castle Hill runs $7,807 a year by car and North Ward $8,106, but most of the $299 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $101. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Castle Hill and North Ward?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,343 in Castle Hill (Townsville City Council) and $1,343 in North Ward (Townsville City Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,099 in Castle Hill and $2,099 in North Ward. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Castle Hill and North Ward?
Annual driving commute costs are $615 from Castle Hill and $514 from North Ward to Townsville CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Castle Hill and $192 from North Ward.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Castle Hill and North Ward?
At 3% annual cost growth, Castle Hill costs a cumulative $89,499 and North Ward costs $92,926 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,427 in favour of Castle Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Castle Hill and North Ward suits you better?
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Sources: Townsville City Council and Townsville City Council 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.