Hexham vs Maryland, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Hexham and Maryland are both Newcastle rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 12.2 km and 11.6 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Maryland runs $347 a year cheaper than Hexham, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,978.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,000, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Maryland
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Hexham | Maryland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,858 | $1,858 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,613 | $3,466 | +$147 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,050 | $1,850 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,898 | $8,551 | +$347 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,685 | $7,485 | +$200 |
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 | Hexham | Maryland | 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, Hexham vs Maryland (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Hexham and Maryland differ by $347 a year by car, but $200 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 $147, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year. Hexham carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,685 from Hexham versus $7,485 from Maryland.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,858 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Maryland by $147 a year, $3,466 against $3,613.
- Building insurance favours Maryland by $200 a year, $1,850 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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Hexham against low in Maryland, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.9 in Maryland against 4.2 in Hexham, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Hexham cumulative | Maryland cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,898 | $8,551 | $347 |
| Year 3 | $27,503 | $26,430 | $1,073 |
| Year 5 | $47,241 | $45,398 | $1,843 |
| Year 10 | $102,006 | $98,028 | $3,978 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hexham or Maryland cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Hexham runs $8,898 a year by car and Maryland $8,551, but most of the $347 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $147. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Hexham and Maryland?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,858 in Hexham (Newcastle rates (OLG) and $1,858 in Maryland (Newcastle rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Hexham and $1,377 in Maryland. 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 Hexham and Maryland?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,613 from Hexham and $3,466 from Maryland to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Hexham and $2,400 from Maryland.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Hexham and Maryland?
At 3% annual cost growth, Hexham costs a cumulative $102,006 and Maryland costs $98,028 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,978 in favour of Maryland. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Hexham and Maryland suits you better?
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Sources: Newcastle rates (OLG and Newcastle 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.