Duckenfield vs Hinton, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Duckenfield (Maitland rates (OLG) and Hinton (Port Stephens rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Newcastle CBD (23.1 km and 24.7 km).
Hinton runs $330 a year cheaper than Duckenfield, driven mostly by council rates. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,783.
Over 10 years, Hinton costs about $3,800 less to run than Duckenfield. That's about $7 a week.
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Hinton
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Duckenfield | Hinton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,970 | $1,415 | +$555 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,741 | $5,966 | -$225 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,850 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,938 | $10,608 | +$330 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,597 | $7,042 | +$555 |
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 | Duckenfield | Hinton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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, Duckenfield vs Hinton (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Hinton costs $330 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,783 in favour of Hinton.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $555 per year.
On public transport the gap is $555 per year, $7,597 from Duckenfield versus $7,042 from Hinton.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Hinton by $555 a year, $1,415 against $1,970.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Duckenfield by $225 a year, $5,741 against $5,966.
- Building insurance is identical at $1,850 a year.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
The catchment state school scores 6.2 in Hinton against 3.2 in Duckenfield, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Duckenfield cumulative | Hinton cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,938 | $10,608 | $330 |
| Year 3 | $33,808 | $32,788 | $1,020 |
| Year 5 | $58,071 | $56,319 | $1,752 |
| Year 10 | $125,392 | $121,609 | $3,783 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Duckenfield or Hinton cheaper to live in?
Hinton is cheaper to run by car at $10,608 per year versus $10,938 for Duckenfield, a difference of $330 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Duckenfield and Hinton?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,970 in Duckenfield (Maitland rates (OLG) and $1,415 in Hinton (Port Stephens rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Duckenfield and $1,377 in Hinton. 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 Duckenfield and Hinton?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,741 from Duckenfield and $5,966 from Hinton to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Duckenfield and $2,400 from Hinton.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Duckenfield and Hinton?
At 3% annual cost growth, Duckenfield costs a cumulative $125,392 and Hinton costs $121,609 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,783 in favour of Hinton. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Duckenfield and Hinton suits you better?
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Sources: Maitland rates (OLG and Port Stephens 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.