Harrington Park vs Smeaton Grange, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Harrington Park and Smeaton Grange are both Camden rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 47.3 km and 45.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $164 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 $1,900, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Smeaton Grange
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Harrington Park | Smeaton Grange | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,573 | $1,573 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,756 | $6,842 | -$86 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,600 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,727 | $11,563 | +$164 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,371 | $7,121 | +$250 |
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 | Harrington Park | Smeaton Grange | 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, Harrington Park vs Smeaton Grange (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Harrington Park and Smeaton Grange differ by $164 a year by car, but $250 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 $86, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,371 from Harrington Park versus $7,121 from Smeaton Grange.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,573 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Harrington Park by $86 a year, $6,756 against $6,842.
- Building insurance favours Smeaton Grange by $250 a year, $1,600 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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Harrington Park against low in Smeaton Grange, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.9 in Harrington Park against 5.5 in Smeaton Grange, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Harrington Park cumulative | Smeaton Grange cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,727 | $11,563 | $164 |
| Year 3 | $36,247 | $35,740 | $507 |
| Year 5 | $62,260 | $61,390 | $870 |
| Year 10 | $134,437 | $132,557 | $1,880 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Harrington Park or Smeaton Grange cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Harrington Park runs $11,727 a year by car and Smeaton Grange $11,563, but most of the $164 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $86. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Harrington Park and Smeaton Grange?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,573 in Harrington Park (Camden rates (OLG) and $1,573 in Smeaton Grange (Camden rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Harrington Park and $1,548 in Smeaton Grange. 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 Harrington Park and Smeaton Grange?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,756 from Harrington Park and $6,842 from Smeaton Grange to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Harrington Park and $2,400 from Smeaton Grange.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Harrington Park and Smeaton Grange?
At 3% annual cost growth, Harrington Park costs a cumulative $134,437 and Smeaton Grange costs $132,557 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,880 in favour of Smeaton Grange. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Harrington Park and Smeaton Grange suits you better?
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Sources: Camden rates (OLG and Camden 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.