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.
Cornwallis runs $313 a year cheaper than Clarendon, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,589.
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 →Clarendon
Cornwallis
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Clarendon | Cornwallis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,736 | $6,723 | +$13 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,250 | $2,950 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $13,382 | $13,069 | +$313 |
| Total (public transport) | $9,046 | $8,746 | +$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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
Cornwallis costs $313 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,589 in favour of Cornwallis.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Clarendon carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $9,046 from Clarendon versus $8,746 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 $300 a year, $2,950 against $3,250.
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 | $13,382 | $13,069 | $313 |
| Year 3 | $41,362 | $40,395 | $967 |
| Year 5 | $71,047 | $69,385 | $1,662 |
| Year 10 | $153,410 | $149,821 | $3,589 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clarendon or Cornwallis cheaper to live in?
Cornwallis is cheaper to run by car at $13,069 per year versus $13,382 for Clarendon, a difference of $313 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $153,410 and Cornwallis costs $149,821 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,589 in favour of Cornwallis. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Clarendon and Cornwallis 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.