Essington vs Twenty Forests, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Essington and Twenty Forests are both Oberon rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 35.7 km and 32.5 km from Bathurst CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $185 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 $2,100, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Twenty Forests
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Essington | Twenty Forests | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,007 | $1,007 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,908 | $6,743 | +$165 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,908 | $6,743 | +$165 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,200 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,065 | $11,250 | -$185 |
| Total (public transport) | $11,065 | $11,250 | -$185 |
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 | Essington | Twenty Forests | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $3,257 | $3,257 | - |
| Unit | $2,691 | $2,691 | - |
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, Essington vs Twenty Forests (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Essington and Twenty Forests differ by $185 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 $165, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $11,065 and $11,250 a year, so the $185 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,007 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Twenty Forests by $165 a year, $6,743 against $6,908.
- Building insurance favours Essington by $350 a year, $1,850 against $2,200.
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 Twenty Forests against medium in Essington, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Essington cumulative | Twenty Forests cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,065 | $11,250 | $185 |
| Year 3 | $34,201 | $34,773 | $572 |
| Year 5 | $58,746 | $59,728 | $982 |
| Year 10 | $126,848 | $128,969 | $2,121 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Essington or Twenty Forests cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Essington runs $11,065 a year by car and Twenty Forests $11,250, but most of the $185 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $165. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Essington and Twenty Forests?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,007 in Essington (Oberon rates (OLG) and $1,007 in Twenty Forests (Oberon rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Essington and $1,300 in Twenty Forests. 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 Essington and Twenty Forests?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,908 from Essington and $6,743 from Twenty Forests to Bathurst 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 Essington and Twenty Forests?
At 3% annual cost growth, Essington costs a cumulative $126,848 and Twenty Forests costs $128,969 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,121 in favour of Essington. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Essington and Twenty Forests suits you better?
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Sources: Oberon rates (OLG and Oberon 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.