Crowley Vale vs Lake Clarendon, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Crowley Vale and Lake Clarendon are both Lockyer Valley Regional Council suburbs, sitting 10 km and 8.5 km from Gatton CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $147 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 $1,700, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Lake Clarendon
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Crowley Vale | Lake Clarendon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,395 | $1,395 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,058 | $2,655 | +$403 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,058 | $2,655 | +$403 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,450 | $2,000 | -$550 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,400 | $1,400 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,803 | $7,950 | -$147 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,803 | $7,950 | -$147 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Crowley Vale | Lake Clarendon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
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, Crowley Vale vs Lake Clarendon (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Crowley Vale and Lake Clarendon differ by $147 a year by car, but $550 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 $403, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $550 per year.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,803 and $7,950 a year, so the $147 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,395 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours Lake Clarendon by $403 a year, $2,655 against $3,058.
- Building insurance favours Crowley Vale by $550 a year, $1,450 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 high in Lake Clarendon against medium in Crowley Vale, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Crowley Vale cumulative | Lake Clarendon cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,803 | $7,950 | $147 |
| Year 3 | $24,118 | $24,573 | $455 |
| Year 5 | $41,427 | $42,208 | $781 |
| Year 10 | $89,453 | $91,138 | $1,685 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Crowley Vale or Lake Clarendon cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Crowley Vale runs $7,803 a year by car and Lake Clarendon $7,950, but most of the $147 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $403. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Crowley Vale and Lake Clarendon?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,395 in Crowley Vale (Lockyer Valley Regional Council) and $1,395 in Lake Clarendon (Lockyer Valley Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Crowley Vale and $1,900 in Lake Clarendon. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Crowley Vale and Lake Clarendon?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,058 from Crowley Vale and $2,655 from Lake Clarendon to Gatton CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Crowley Vale and Lake Clarendon?
At 3% annual cost growth, Crowley Vale costs a cumulative $89,453 and Lake Clarendon costs $91,138 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,685 in favour of Crowley Vale. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Crowley Vale and Lake Clarendon suits you better?
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Sources: Lockyer Valley Regional Council and Lockyer Valley Regional Council 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.