Caulfield North

Population growth drivers in Caulfield North are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on demographic evaluations from the ABS for the wider region, combined with fresh street listings verified by AreaSearch following the Census, the suburb of Caulfield North has an estimated residency of 19,381 individuals in May 2026. This marks a rise of 2,478 people (14.7%) from the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 16,903 people. This trend is calculated using a local count of 18,999, which AreaSearch estimated using the June 2025 ABS release of ERP statistics and an extra 820 validated new addresses added after the Census. This total population translates to a density of 4,614 persons per square kilometer, placing the locality in the highest 10% of all national areas analyzed by AreaSearch, demonstrating that local land is an extremely coveted commodity. The expansion of 14.7% in the suburb of Caulfield North since the 2021 census outpaced both the broader SA4 region (8.0%) and the state overall, establishing the locality as a leading growth zone. The main driver of this expansion was incoming international migration, which accounted for approximately 87.0% of the absolute population gains in recent times.

Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia are applied by AreaSearch for each SA2 zone, utilizing 2022 as the base year and published in 2024. For any SA2 zones lacking this coverage, AreaSearch employs regional and LGA forecasts released by the Victorian State Government in 2023, adjusted via a weighted aggregation methodology to translate LGA trends down to SA2 zones. The age bracket growth profiles from these aggregations are also projected forward for the years 2032 to 2041. Looking at future demographic shifts, a major influx placing the area in the top national quartile is anticipated, with the suburb of Caulfield North projected to add 4,751 residents by 2041 based on these combined SA2 forecasts, representing a total expansion of 22.5% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Caulfield North among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

According to municipal building permit figures compiled by AreaSearch, Caulfield North has averaged roughly 233 annual residential approvals, creating an estimated 1,169 new dwellings over the last 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, there have been 41 approvals logged. Given that construction has yielded an average of 1.2 new occupants per dwelling annually over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, residential supply is keeping pace with demand to maintain balanced conditions, while new dwellings carry a mean estimated construction cost of $1,205,000, indicating that building activity is concentrated on high-end, premium properties. Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $30.8 million have been registered in the current financial year, pointing to healthy local corporate investment.

Caulfield North exceeds the wider Greater Melbourne area in per-capita residential construction by 105.0%, offering home buyers a broader selection of properties. This volume is significantly higher than the national standard, demonstrating strong builder confidence in the local market. Modern construction consists of 13.0% detached houses and 87.0% multi-dwelling options like townhouses or apartments. Emphasizing higher-density formats provides more attainable price points and caters to downsizers, property investors, and first-time buyers. This represents a major departure from the traditional residential mix of 36.0% houses, which is a consequence of scarcer development sites alongside evolving lifestyle preferences and budget constraints. With a ratio of approximately 79 people for every approval, Caulfield North shows the hallmarks of an expanding area.

Demographic projections indicate Caulfield North will add 4,369 residents by 2041, measured from the most recent quarterly estimate by AreaSearch. Supported by current construction volume, the supply of new housing should comfortably satisfy demand, keeping conditions favorable for buyers and potentially allowing growth to outpace current projections.

Caulfield North has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and major works play a significant role in shaping the trajectory of an area. AreaSearch has tracked a total of 40 projects that are expected to influence the local area. Notable projects include Caulfield Village - Stage 9, the 219-229 Balaclava Road Mixed-Use Development, Caulfield Village, and the Caulfield Station Upgrade, with the most relevant initiatives listed in detail below.

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

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The employment landscape in Caulfield North shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

A highly qualified labor force resides in Caulfield North, marked by a strong concentration of professionals, a local unemployment rate of 4.3%, and consistent employment numbers over the past year according to regional data compiled by AreaSearch. In March 2026, working residents numbered 11,031, while the local unemployment rate sat 0.4% below the Greater Melbourne level of 4.8%, and overall workforce participation aligned with the Greater Melbourne rate of 70.2%. Census records show that a substantial 45.9% of local workers performed their duties from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of Covid-19 restrictions.

The primary sectors employing local residents are professional & technical services, healthcare & social assistance, and education & training. The local workforce is particularly concentrated in professional & technical fields, with employment density reaching 1.7 times the metropolitan average. Conversely, building trades are underrepresented, accounting for just 5.1% of the local workforce compared to 9.7% across Greater Melbourne. This residential neighborhood provides sparse local jobs, as shown by comparing the count of working residents against local workplace numbers in the Census.

Based on statistical summaries of SALM and ABS records, the 12 months leading up to March 2026 saw the local labor force grow by 0.2% while total employed residents shrank by 0.1%, causing the local unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points. This differed from Greater Melbourne, where total employment expanded by 2.1%, the overall labor force grew by 2.3%, and the unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points. National forecasts released in May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia help illustrate prospective employment demand for Caulfield North. These five and ten-year predictions have been modeled against the local industrial makeup to project job trends. While total national employment is predicted to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of change vary widely by sector. Applying these sector-specific trends to the local industry mix suggests employment among residents will grow by 7.5% over five years and 15.0% over ten years, representing a basic weighted projection that does not factor in local population adjustments.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Tax data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 shows that the suburb of Caulfield North exhibits exceptionally high household earnings compared to the rest of the nation. Local taxpayers earn a median income of $67,081 and an average income of $118,556, contrasting with the Greater Melbourne figures of $57,688 and $75,164. Adjusting for a 9.62% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, estimated figures for March 2026 stand at $73,534 for the median and $129,961 for the average. The 2021 Census confirms that family, personal, and household earnings in Caulfield North all rank highly, placing between the 78th and 88th percentiles nationally. Looking at income brackets, the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly band accounts for 28.0% of local earners, totaling 5,426 individuals, which is comparable to the wider region where this segment comprises 32.8% of earners. High-income earners are also highly visible, with 37.0% of the cohort earning more than $3,000 per week, showing significant local purchasing capacity. Housing costs represent 14.8% of income, while strong salaries place residents in the 79th percentile for disposable funds, and the local SEIFA index for income ranks in the 9th decile.

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

The local housing profile at the time of the latest Census consisted of 36.2% standalone houses and 63.8% other dwelling formats such as townhouses, apartments, or terrace homes, differing from the metropolitan Melbourne split of 67.9% houses and 32.1% alternative dwellings. Meanwhile, home ownership rates in Caulfield North matched the Melbourne metropolitan benchmark of 32.2%, while the remaining properties were either held with a mortgage (26.7%) or occupied by tenants (41.0%). The median monthly home loan repayment of $2,500 was significantly higher than the Melbourne metropolitan average of $2,000, and the median weekly rent was $422 compared to the metropolitan figure of $390. Nationally, mortgage payments in Caulfield North are much higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and typical weekly rent is also well above the national benchmark of $375.

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

Families make up the majority of households at 62.4%, comprising 26.6% couples raising children, 28.1% couples without children at home, and 6.6% single parents with dependents. The remaining 37.6% consists of non-family households, which are divided into single-occupant homes at 31.3% and shared group households at 6.3%. The typical household size of 2.3 individuals is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Caulfield North shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Residents of Caulfield North exhibit high rates of tertiary education, with 58.1% of citizens aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 30.4% across Australia and 33.4% throughout VIC. This educational lead positions the community well for professional service roles. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 37.2%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 16.3% and graduate diplomas at 4.6%. Technical or vocational qualifications account for 17.9% of the population aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas at 9.8% and certificates at 8.1%.

A high portion of the population is engaged in learning, with 31.9% of residents actively enrolled in an educational program. This includes 10.7% attending university or higher education, 8.0% enrolled in primary school, and 7.3% studying at the secondary school level.

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

Analysis of transit facilities shows 72 active public transport stops operating in Caulfield North, consisting of tram and bus services. These stops are served by 9 distinct routes, which accommodate 6,803 weekly passenger trips. Access to public transit is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 162 meters from their nearest stop. Being a mostly residential suburb, a high portion of residents travel out of the area for work, with private vehicles remaining the primary mode of travel at 76% and trains accounting for 10%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per home, which is below the metropolitan standard. A large share of residents (45.9%) worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic restrictions.

Transit services average 971 daily trips across all routes, which is equivalent to approximately 94 weekly services at each individual stop.

Caulfield North's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Public health records indicate excellent physical well-being in Caulfield North, characterized by low mortality and low rates of chronic illness across all age brackets, while the rate of private health insurance is exceptionally high, covering approximately 73% of the population (14,229 people). This is significantly higher than the Greater Melbourne rate of 56.7% and the national baseline of 55.7%.

The primary medical diagnoses among local residents are mental health conditions and asthma, affecting 7.2 and 6.5% of the population. Conversely, 74.1% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, which compares to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Residents aged 65 and over make up 19.0% of the local population (3,682 people), exceeding the Greater Melbourne average of 15.0%. The health status of local seniors is strong, with national indicators matching the positive trends seen in the broader local community.

Caulfield North was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Caulfield North displays high levels of multiculturalism, with 27.4% of the population speaking a language other than English in the home and 38.0% of residents having been born overseas. The most common religious affiliation in Caulfield North is Judaism, which is practiced by 44.0% of the local population, compared to a rate of 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

In terms of parent country of birth, the top three ancestries in Caulfield North are Other, accounting for 22.0% of the population (compared to the regional average of 14.6%), Australian at 18.3%, and English at 14.8% (which is below the regional average of 20.1%). There are also notable concentrations of specific European ancestries: Polish ancestry represents 7.4% of the Caulfield North population (compared to 0.8% across the region), Russian ancestry accounts for 2.6% (compared to 0.4%), and South Australian ancestry stands at 2.5% (compared to 0.4%).

Caulfield North's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age of 36 years in Caulfield North is close to the Greater Melbourne average of 37 and slightly below the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Melbourne metropolitan area, Caulfield North has a larger share of residents aged 25 - 34 (19.7%) but fewer aged 35 - 44 (12.5%). The concentration of residents aged 25 - 34 sits well above the national rate of 14.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age bracket expanded from 12.8% to 15.6% of the population, and the 75 to 84 cohort grew from 5.2% to 6.8%. Over the same period, the 65 to 74 group fell from 10.6% to 9.1% and children aged 5 to 14 dropped from 10.6% to 9.3%. Age modeling indicates the local demographic structure will shift by 2041, with the 25 to 34 age bracket projected to experience the highest growth rate of 21%, adding 818 residents to reach a total of 4,637. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 age group is projected to grow by 3% (89 people).