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.
The two sit within $223 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 $2,600, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Pendle Hill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Constitution Hill | Pendle Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,156 | $1,156 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,785 | $5,912 | -$127 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,500 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,339 | $10,116 | +$223 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,954 | $6,604 | +$350 |
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 | 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
Constitution Hill and Pendle Hill differ by $223 a year by car, but $350 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 $127, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Constitution Hill carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $6,954 from Constitution Hill versus $6,604 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 $350 a year, $1,500 against $1,850.
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 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 | $10,339 | $10,116 | $223 |
| Year 3 | $31,957 | $31,268 | $689 |
| Year 5 | $54,891 | $53,707 | $1,184 |
| Year 10 | $118,525 | $115,969 | $2,556 |
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?
Neither is named cheaper. Constitution Hill runs $10,339 a year by car and Pendle Hill $10,116, but most of the $223 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $127. 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 $118,525 and Pendle Hill costs $115,969 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,556 in favour of Pendle Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Constitution Hill and Pendle Hill suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.