Hinchinbrook vs Middleton 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
Hinchinbrook and Middleton Grange are both Liverpool rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 32.7 km and 34.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Hinchinbrook runs $386 a year cheaper than Middleton Grange, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,425.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Hinchinbrook
Middleton Grange
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Hinchinbrook | Middleton Grange | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,376 | $1,376 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,756 | $6,842 | -$86 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $1,850 | $2,150 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,530 | $11,916 | -$386 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,174 | $7,474 | -$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Hinchinbrook | Middleton 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 — Hinchinbrook vs Middleton Grange (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Hinchinbrook costs $386 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,425 in favour of Hinchinbrook.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,174 from Hinchinbrook versus $7,474 from Middleton Grange.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,376 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Hinchinbrook by $86 a year, $6,756 against $6,842.
- Building insurance favours Hinchinbrook by $300 a year, $1,850 against $2,150.
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 Middleton Grange against low in Hinchinbrook, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.3 in Middleton Grange against 5 in Hinchinbrook, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Hinchinbrook cumulative | Middleton Grange cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,530 | $11,916 | $386 |
| Year 3 | $35,638 | $36,831 | $1,193 |
| Year 5 | $61,214 | $63,264 | $2,050 |
| Year 10 | $132,179 | $136,604 | $4,425 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hinchinbrook or Middleton Grange cheaper to live in?
Hinchinbrook is cheaper to run by car at $11,530 per year versus $11,916 for Middleton Grange, a difference of $386 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Hinchinbrook and Middleton Grange?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,376 in Hinchinbrook (Liverpool rates (OLG) and $1,376 in Middleton Grange (Liverpool rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Hinchinbrook and $1,548 in Middleton 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 Hinchinbrook and Middleton Grange?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,756 from Hinchinbrook and $6,842 from Middleton Grange to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Hinchinbrook and $2,400 from Middleton Grange.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Hinchinbrook and Middleton Grange?
At 3% annual cost growth, Hinchinbrook costs a cumulative $132,179 and Middleton Grange costs $136,604 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,425 in favour of Hinchinbrook. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Hinchinbrook and Middleton Grange is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Liverpool rates (OLG and Liverpool rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.