Lower Tenthill vs Placid Hills, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Lower Tenthill and Placid Hills are both Lockyer Valley Regional Council suburbs, sitting 6.4 km and 4.3 km from Gatton CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Placid Hills runs $486 a year cheaper than Lower Tenthill, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,572.
Over 10 years, Placid Hills costs about $5,600 less to run than Lower Tenthill. That's about $11 a week.
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Placid Hills
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Lower Tenthill | Placid Hills | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,395 | $1,395 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,058 | $1,422 | +$636 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,058 | $1,422 | +$636 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,500 | $2,650 | -$150 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,300 | $1,600 | -$300 |
| Total (driving) | $7,853 | $7,367 | +$486 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,853 | $7,367 | +$486 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Lower Tenthill | Placid Hills | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
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, Lower Tenthill vs Placid Hills (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Placid Hills costs $486 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,572 in favour of Placid Hills.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $636 per year. Lower Tenthill is 6.4 km from Gatton CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $486 per year, $7,853 from Lower Tenthill versus $7,367 from Placid Hills.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,395 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours Placid Hills by $636 a year, $1,422 against $2,058.
- Building insurance favours Lower Tenthill by $150 a year, $2,500 against $2,650.
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 5.6 in Lower Tenthill against 4.1 in Placid Hills, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Lower Tenthill cumulative | Placid Hills cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,853 | $7,367 | $486 |
| Year 3 | $24,273 | $22,771 | $1,502 |
| Year 5 | $41,693 | $39,112 | $2,581 |
| Year 10 | $90,026 | $84,454 | $5,572 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lower Tenthill or Placid Hills cheaper to live in?
Placid Hills is cheaper to run by car at $7,367 per year versus $7,853 for Lower Tenthill, a difference of $486 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Lower Tenthill and Placid Hills?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,395 in Lower Tenthill (Lockyer Valley Regional Council) and $1,395 in Placid Hills (Lockyer Valley Regional Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Lower Tenthill and $1,900 in Placid Hills. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Lower Tenthill and Placid Hills?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,058 from Lower Tenthill and $1,422 from Placid Hills to Gatton CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Lower Tenthill and Placid Hills?
At 3% annual cost growth, Lower Tenthill costs a cumulative $90,026 and Placid Hills costs $84,454 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,572 in favour of Placid Hills. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Lower Tenthill and Placid Hills suits you better?
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Sources: Lockyer Valley Regional Council and Lockyer Valley Regional Council 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.