Constitution Hill vs Pendle Hill: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Constitution Hill and Pendle Hill are both Parramatta rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 23.4 km and 24.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Pendle Hill runs $323 a year cheaper than Constitution Hill, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,703.
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 →Constitution Hill
Pendle Hill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Constitution Hill | Pendle Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,156 | $1,156 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $5,785 | $5,912 | -$127 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $1,850 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,789 | $10,466 | +$323 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,404 | $6,954 | +$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 | Constitution Hill | Pendle Hill | 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 — Constitution Hill vs Pendle Hill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Pendle Hill costs $323 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,703 in favour of Pendle Hill.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Constitution Hill carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,404 from Constitution Hill versus $6,954 from Pendle Hill.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,156 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Constitution Hill by $127 a year, $5,785 against $5,912.
- Building insurance favours Pendle Hill by $450 a year, $1,850 against $2,300.
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 Constitution Hill against low in Pendle Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.1 in Pendle Hill against 3.5 in Constitution Hill, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Constitution Hill cumulative | Pendle Hill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,789 | $10,466 | $323 |
| Year 3 | $33,348 | $32,349 | $999 |
| Year 5 | $57,280 | $55,565 | $1,715 |
| Year 10 | $123,684 | $119,981 | $3,703 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Constitution Hill or Pendle Hill cheaper to live in?
Pendle Hill is cheaper to run by car at $10,466 per year versus $10,789 for Constitution Hill, a difference of $323 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Constitution Hill and Pendle Hill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,156 in Constitution Hill (Parramatta rates (OLG) and $1,156 in Pendle Hill (Parramatta rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Constitution Hill and $1,548 in Pendle Hill. 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 Constitution Hill and Pendle Hill?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,785 from Constitution Hill and $5,912 from Pendle Hill to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Constitution Hill and $2,400 from Pendle Hill.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Constitution Hill and Pendle Hill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Constitution Hill costs a cumulative $123,684 and Pendle Hill costs $119,981 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,703 in favour of Pendle Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Constitution Hill and Pendle Hill 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: Parramatta rates (OLG and Parramatta 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.