Ferodale vs Twelve Mile Creek, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Ferodale and Twelve Mile Creek are both Port Stephens rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 27.5 km and 31.7 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $268 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 $3,100, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Ferodale
Twelve Mile Creek
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ferodale | Twelve Mile Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,415 | $1,415 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,306 | $6,688 | -$382 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,050 | $1,400 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,148 | $10,880 | +$268 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,242 | $6,592 | +$650 |
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 | Ferodale | Twelve Mile Creek | 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, Ferodale vs Twelve Mile Creek (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Ferodale and Twelve Mile Creek differ by $268 a year by car, but $650 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 $382, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Ferodale carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,242 from Ferodale versus $6,592 from Twelve Mile Creek.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,415 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Ferodale by $382 a year, $6,306 against $6,688.
- Building insurance favours Twelve Mile Creek by $650 a year, $1,400 against $2,050.
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 high in Ferodale against low in Twelve Mile Creek, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.7 in Ferodale against 2.9 in Twelve Mile Creek, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ferodale cumulative | Twelve Mile Creek cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,148 | $10,880 | $268 |
| Year 3 | $34,457 | $33,629 | $828 |
| Year 5 | $59,186 | $57,763 | $1,423 |
| Year 10 | $127,799 | $124,727 | $3,072 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ferodale or Twelve Mile Creek cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Ferodale runs $11,148 a year by car and Twelve Mile Creek $10,880, but most of the $268 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $382. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ferodale and Twelve Mile Creek?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,415 in Ferodale (Port Stephens rates (OLG) and $1,415 in Twelve Mile Creek (Port Stephens rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Ferodale and $1,377 in Twelve Mile Creek. 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 Ferodale and Twelve Mile Creek?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,306 from Ferodale and $6,688 from Twelve Mile Creek to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Ferodale and $2,400 from Twelve Mile Creek.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Ferodale and Twelve Mile Creek?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ferodale costs a cumulative $127,799 and Twelve Mile Creek costs $124,727 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,072 in favour of Twelve Mile Creek. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ferodale and Twelve Mile Creek suits you better?
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Sources: Port Stephens 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.