Freemans Reach vs Richmond Lowlands, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Freemans Reach and Richmond Lowlands are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 51.7 km and 53.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Richmond Lowlands runs $686 a year cheaper than Freemans Reach, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,865.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,900, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Richmond Lowlands
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Freemans Reach | Richmond Lowlands | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,391 | $6,205 | +$186 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,500 | $2,000 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,287 | $11,601 | +$686 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,296 | $7,796 | +$500 |
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 | Freemans Reach | Richmond Lowlands | 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, Freemans Reach vs Richmond Lowlands (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Freemans Reach and Richmond Lowlands differ by $686 a year by car, but $500 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 $186, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Freemans Reach carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $8,296 from Freemans Reach versus $7,796 from Richmond Lowlands.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,848 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Richmond Lowlands by $186 a year, $6,205 against $6,391.
- Building insurance favours Richmond Lowlands by $500 a year, $2,000 against $2,500.
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.
The catchment state school scores 7.2 in Richmond Lowlands against 4.9 in Freemans Reach, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Freemans Reach cumulative | Richmond Lowlands cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,287 | $11,601 | $686 |
| Year 3 | $37,978 | $35,858 | $2,120 |
| Year 5 | $65,233 | $61,591 | $3,642 |
| Year 10 | $140,857 | $132,992 | $7,865 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Freemans Reach or Richmond Lowlands cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Freemans Reach runs $12,287 a year by car and Richmond Lowlands $11,601, but most of the $686 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $186. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Freemans Reach and Richmond Lowlands?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,848 in Freemans Reach (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) and $1,848 in Richmond Lowlands (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Freemans Reach and $1,548 in Richmond Lowlands. 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 Freemans Reach and Richmond Lowlands?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,391 from Freemans Reach and $6,205 from Richmond Lowlands to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Freemans Reach and $2,400 from Richmond Lowlands.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Freemans Reach and Richmond Lowlands?
At 3% annual cost growth, Freemans Reach costs a cumulative $140,857 and Richmond Lowlands costs $132,992 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,865 in favour of Richmond Lowlands. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Freemans Reach and Richmond Lowlands suits you better?
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Sources: Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in and Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in 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.