Grantham Farm vs Riverstone, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Grantham Farm and Riverstone are both Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for suburbs, sitting 38.7 km and 38.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $142 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 $1,600, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Riverstone
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Grantham Farm | Riverstone | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,360 | $1,360 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,981 | $6,973 | +$8 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,700 | $1,850 | -$150 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,589 | $11,731 | -$142 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,008 | $7,158 | -$150 |
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 | Grantham Farm | Riverstone | 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, Grantham Farm vs Riverstone (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Grantham Farm and Riverstone differ by $142 a year by car, but $150 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 $8, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $150 per year. Riverstone carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,008 and $7,158 a year, so the $142 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,360 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Riverstone by $8 a year, $6,973 against $6,981.
- Building insurance favours Grantham Farm by $150 a year, $1,700 against $1,850.
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 medium in Riverstone against low in Grantham Farm, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Grantham Farm against low in Riverstone, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Grantham Farm cumulative | Riverstone cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,589 | $11,731 | $142 |
| Year 3 | $35,820 | $36,259 | $439 |
| Year 5 | $61,528 | $62,281 | $753 |
| Year 10 | $132,855 | $134,483 | $1,628 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grantham Farm or Riverstone cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Grantham Farm runs $11,589 a year by car and Riverstone $11,731, but most of the $142 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $8. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Grantham Farm and Riverstone?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,360 in Grantham Farm (Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for) and $1,360 in Riverstone (Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Grantham Farm and $1,548 in Riverstone. 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 Grantham Farm and Riverstone?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,981 from Grantham Farm and $6,973 from Riverstone to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Grantham Farm and $2,400 from Riverstone.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Grantham Farm and Riverstone?
At 3% annual cost growth, Grantham Farm costs a cumulative $132,855 and Riverstone costs $134,483 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,628 in favour of Grantham Farm. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Grantham Farm and Riverstone suits you better?
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Sources: Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for and Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for 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.