Clarence Town vs Glen Martin: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Clarence Town and Glen Martin are both Dungog rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 38.4 km and 42.2 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Glen Martin runs $460 a year cheaper than Clarence Town, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,273.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Clarence Town
Glen Martin
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Clarence Town | Glen Martin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,712 | $1,712 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,978 | $6,968 | +$10 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,850 | $2,400 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,917 | $12,457 | +$460 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,339 | $7,889 | +$450 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Clarence Town | Glen Martin | 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 — Clarence Town vs Glen Martin (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Glen Martin costs $460 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,273 in favour of Glen Martin.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Clarence Town carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $8,339 from Clarence Town versus $7,889 from Glen Martin.
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 Glen Martin by $10 a year, $6,968 against $6,978.
- Building insurance favours Glen Martin by $450 a year, $2,400 against $2,850.
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 Clarence Town against low in Glen Martin, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Clarence Town cumulative | Glen Martin cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,917 | $12,457 | $460 |
| Year 3 | $39,925 | $38,503 | $1,422 |
| Year 5 | $68,578 | $66,136 | $2,442 |
| Year 10 | $148,079 | $142,806 | $5,273 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clarence Town or Glen Martin cheaper to live in?
Glen Martin is cheaper to run by car at $12,457 per year versus $12,917 for Clarence Town, a difference of $460 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Clarence Town and Glen Martin?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,712 in Clarence Town (Dungog rates (OLG) and $1,712 in Glen Martin (Dungog rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Clarence Town and $1,377 in Glen Martin. 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 Clarence Town and Glen Martin?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,978 from Clarence Town and $6,968 from Glen Martin to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Clarence Town and $2,400 from Glen Martin.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Clarence Town and Glen Martin?
At 3% annual cost growth, Clarence Town costs a cumulative $148,079 and Glen Martin costs $142,806 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,273 in favour of Glen Martin. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Clarence Town and Glen Martin is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.