McGraths Hill vs Windsor, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
McGraths Hill and Windsor are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 44.4 km and 46.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Windsor runs $639 a year cheaper than McGraths Hill, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,326.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,300, about $14 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Windsor
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | McGraths Hill | Windsor | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,905 | $6,816 | +$89 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,800 | +$550 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,651 | $12,012 | +$639 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,146 | $7,596 | +$550 |
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 | McGraths Hill | Windsor | 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, McGraths Hill vs Windsor (2026-27)
What the numbers show
McGraths Hill and Windsor differ by $639 a year by car, but $550 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 $89, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $550 per year. McGraths Hill carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $550 per year, $8,146 from McGraths Hill versus $7,596 from Windsor.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,848 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Windsor by $89 a year, $6,816 against $6,905.
- Building insurance favours Windsor by $550 a year, $1,800 against $2,350.
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 McGraths Hill against low in Windsor, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | McGraths Hill cumulative | Windsor cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,651 | $12,012 | $639 |
| Year 3 | $39,103 | $37,128 | $1,975 |
| Year 5 | $67,166 | $63,773 | $3,393 |
| Year 10 | $145,030 | $137,704 | $7,326 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is McGraths Hill or Windsor cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. McGraths Hill runs $12,651 a year by car and Windsor $12,012, but most of the $639 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $89. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in McGraths Hill and Windsor?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,848 in McGraths Hill (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) and $1,848 in Windsor (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in McGraths Hill and $1,548 in Windsor. 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 McGraths Hill and Windsor?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,905 from McGraths Hill and $6,816 from Windsor to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from McGraths Hill and $2,400 from Windsor.
What is the 10-year cost difference between McGraths Hill and Windsor?
At 3% annual cost growth, McGraths Hill costs a cumulative $145,030 and Windsor costs $137,704 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,326 in favour of Windsor. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of McGraths Hill and Windsor suits you better?
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Related comparisons
Sources: Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in and Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in 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.