Clarendon vs Cornwallis, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Clarendon and Cornwallis are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 47.6 km and 47.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $213 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 $2,400, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Cornwallis
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Clarendon | Cornwallis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,736 | $6,723 | +$13 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,000 | $1,800 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,132 | $11,919 | +$213 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,796 | $7,596 | +$200 |
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 | Clarendon | Cornwallis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
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, Clarendon vs Cornwallis (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Clarendon and Cornwallis differ by $213 a year by car, but $200 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 $13, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year. Clarendon carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,796 from Clarendon versus $7,596 from Cornwallis.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,848 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Cornwallis by $13 a year, $6,723 against $6,736.
- Building insurance favours Cornwallis by $200 a year, $1,800 against $2,000.
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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Clarendon against low in Cornwallis, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.6 in Cornwallis against 2.5 in Clarendon, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Clarendon cumulative | Cornwallis cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,132 | $11,919 | $213 |
| Year 3 | $37,499 | $36,840 | $659 |
| Year 5 | $64,410 | $63,280 | $1,130 |
| Year 10 | $139,080 | $136,638 | $2,442 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clarendon or Cornwallis cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Clarendon runs $12,132 a year by car and Cornwallis $11,919, but most of the $213 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $13. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Clarendon and Cornwallis?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,848 in Clarendon (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) and $1,848 in Cornwallis (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Clarendon and $1,548 in Cornwallis. 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 Clarendon and Cornwallis?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,736 from Clarendon and $6,723 from Cornwallis to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Clarendon and $2,400 from Cornwallis.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Clarendon and Cornwallis?
At 3% annual cost growth, Clarendon costs a cumulative $139,080 and Cornwallis costs $136,638 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,442 in favour of Cornwallis. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Clarendon and Cornwallis suits you better?
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Related comparisons
Sources: Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in and Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in 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.