Caulfield

Population growth drivers in Caulfield are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

As of May 2026, the population of Caulfield is estimated at around 5,911 people. This figure reflects an increase from the 2021 Census total of 5,748 residents, marking a growth of 163 individuals (2.8%). AreaSearch's analysis of recent ERP data by the ABS and new addresses validated since the Census indicates this population estimate. The suburb's population density is approximately 4,021 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of Caulfield's recent population growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 adjusted to SA2 levels for areas not covered by ABS data. Based on these projections, Caulfield is expected to experience above median population growth nationally, increasing by 948 persons to reach a total of 6,859 residents by the year 2041, indicating a 15.2% increase over the 16-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Caulfield according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Caulfield has recorded approximately 29 residential properties granted approval per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 148 homes were approved, with a further 9 approved so far in FY-26. On average, about 0.9 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built over these five years.

This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially driving population growth beyond current projections. The average expected construction cost of new homes is approximately $784,000, indicating a focus on premium properties by developers. In FY-26 alone, Caulfield has seen $35.4 million in commercial development approvals, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Caulfield has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person, placing it around the 55th percentile nationally among assessed areas. Recent construction trends show that 15.0% are standalone homes, while 85.0% are townhouses or apartments.

This shift towards denser development caters to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers, marking a significant change from the current housing mix of 40.0% houses. Caulfield has approximately 283 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Caulfield is projected to gain around 898 residents by 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with these growth projections, although heightened competition among buyers can be expected as the population increases.

Caulfield has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Former ABC Elsternwick Studio Site (8 Gordon Street), Elsternwick Cultural Precinct, Elsternwick Structure Plan Implementation, and Fabric Residential Development. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Caulfield has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Caulfield's workforce is highly educated with significant professional services representation and an unemployment rate of 4.5%, as per AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. As of December 2025, 3131 residents are employed at a rate of 0.3% lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.8%. Workforce participation in Caulfield is 64.8%, lagging behind Greater Melbourne's 69.9%.

Census responses indicate that 45.6% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment industries are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Caulfield specializes in professional & technical jobs with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level, while construction has a limited presence at 5.7% compared to the regional 9.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population to local population counts.

In the 12-month period ending December 2025, Caulfield's labour force decreased by 1.2%, employment declined by 1.0%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Caulfield's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Caulfield's median income among taxpayers is $59,575. The average income is $95,119. This places Caulfield among the highest in Australia. Greater Melbourne's median income is $57,688 with an average of $75,164. By March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $65,306 (median) and $104,269 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Caulfield rank between the 74th and 76th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 29.0% of residents (1,714 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket. This is similar to regional levels where 32.8% occupy this range. A substantial proportion of high earners, 35.3%, have incomes above $3,000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity in the area. Housing accounts for 14.9% of income. Residents rank within the 76th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Caulfield displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Caulfield's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 39.9% houses and 60.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Caulfield was at 38.7%, with the rest being mortgaged (28.5%) or rented (32.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,500, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent in Caulfield was $475, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Caulfield's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,500 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Caulfield features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 68.3% of all households, including 29.8% couples with children, 28.3% couples without children, and 8.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.7%, with lone person households at 26.7% and group households comprising 5.2%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Caulfield demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Caulfield's educational attainment is notably higher than national averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 52.5% have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 35.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.0%) and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational pathways account for 20.5% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 9.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.2% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.3% in tertiary education, 8.1% in primary education, and 7.4% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Caulfield has 27 operational public transport stops offering a mix of lightrail and bus services. These are served by five distinct routes, facilitating 3,560 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated highly, with residents typically residing just 166 meters from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 78%, while train usage stands at 10%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling.

Notably, 45.6% of residents work from home (as per the 2021 Census; this figure may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions). Daily service frequency averages 508 trips across all routes, equating to approximately 131 weekly trips per individual stop.

Caulfield's residents are extremely healthy with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Caulfield, based on AreaSearch's assessment as of October 2021. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were found to be low among the general population, though higher than the national average among older, at-risk cohorts. The rate of private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 64% of the total population (3,799 people), compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

As of October 2021, the most common medical conditions in the area were mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 9.5 and 6.2% of residents respectively, while 69.4% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents were notably healthy with low chronic condition prevalence. The area had 24.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,436 people), which was higher than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors presented some challenges, though ranking lower nationally than the broader population as of October 2021.

Caulfield is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Caulfield has a high level of cultural diversity, with 30.9% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 42.1% born overseas. The predominant religion in Caulfield is Judaism, comprising 44.5% of the population, which is significantly higher than the 1.0% figure for Greater Melbourne. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Other (22.4%), Australian (17.3%), and English (14.7%).

Notably, Polish (6.7%) and Russian (4.3%) populations in Caulfield are higher than their respective regional averages of 0.8% and 0.4%. Similarly, the South Australian population in Caulfield is also notably higher at 3.9%, compared to the regional average of 0.4%.

Caulfield's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Caulfield is 42 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's median age of 38 years. The 75-84 age group comprises 9.4% of Caulfield's population, a strong representation compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 35-44 cohort makes up 12.1%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group grew from 7.0% to 9.4%, and the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 11.6% to 13.5%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort declined from 12.5% to 10.8%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 12.5% to 11.3%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Caulfield, with the 85+ age group expected to grow by 92% (from 242 to 466 people). The combined 65+ age groups will account for 58% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.