Caulfield South

Caulfield South has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of Caulfield South is around 12,993, reflecting an increase of 665 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a 5.4% growth from the previous population count of 12,328. The current resident population estimate of 12,830 is based on AreaSearch's analysis of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 284 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,973 persons per square kilometer, placing Caulfield South among the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The primary driver for this growth has been overseas migration.

AreaSearch's projections for Caulfield South are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 adjusted to SA2 levels using weighted aggregation. Considering these projections, an above median population growth is expected for the suburb by 2041, with an anticipated increase of 1,970 persons, reflecting a 13.9% total increase over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Caulfield South when compared nationally

Caulfield South has seen around 103 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling approximately 518 homes. By FY26, 18 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years, on average, 0.2 people moved to the area per dwelling built. This suggests new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more housing options and potentially driving population growth beyond current projections.

The average expected construction cost of new properties is $784,000, indicating developers are targeting high-end market segments. Commercial development approvals this financial year amount to $74.1 million, reflecting strong commercial development momentum in the area. Comparatively, Caulfield South's construction levels are 27.0% higher than Greater Melbourne's average per person over the past five years. This elevated construction activity supports buyer choice and maintains existing property values. The current building trend favours medium to high-density housing (82.0%), with detached houses making up 18.0%.

This shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 55.0% houses, suggests decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyle preferences. With approximately 153 people moving in per dwelling approval, Caulfield South exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is projected to gain around 1,807 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Caulfield South 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 11 projects that could impact this region. Notable projects include Former ABC Elsternwick Studio Site (8 Gordon Street), Olive Green, Elsternwick Cultural Precinct, 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.

AreaSearch analysis indicates Caulfield South maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Caulfield South has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. The unemployment rate was 3.6% as of December 2025, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.8%. Workforce participation was similar to the regional average at 71.3%.

Home workership stood at 46.0%, influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment industries were professional & technical (1.6 times the regional level), health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction showed lower representation at 6.0% compared to the regional average of 9.7%. The area had limited local employment opportunities based on Census data.

Between December 2024 and December 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.3%, with employment down by 0.1%, leading to a unemployment drop of 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, issued in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Caulfield South's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

In financial year 2023, Caulfield South had a median taxpayer income of $65,423 and an average income of $104,456. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high, compared to Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. By September 2025, adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 8.25%, the estimated median income is approximately $70,820 and the average is around $113,074. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Caulfield South rank highly nationally, between the 84th and 86th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. The income bracket of $4000+ dominates with 28.1% of residents (3,651 people), differing from regional patterns where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket is dominant at 32.8%. Economic strength is evident through 40.6% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 15.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 85th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

Caulfield South's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 54.7% houses and 45.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Caulfield South stood at 37.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 36.1% and rented ones at 26.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,889, exceeding Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Caulfield South was $496, higher than Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Caulfield South's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Caulfield South has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 72.7% of all households, including 37.0% couples with children, 26.6% couples without children, and 8.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 27.3%, with lone person households at 23.9% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

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

Caulfield South's educational attainment exceeds national averages significantly. 52.1% of residents aged 15+ possess university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 34.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.8%) and graduate diplomas (4.8%). Vocational pathways account for 21.4% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates also at 10.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.7% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in primary, 8.3% in secondary, and 6.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Caulfield South has 57 active public transport stops offering light rail and bus services. These are served by six routes that facilitate 4,174 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 191 meters to the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, with most commuters traveling outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 81%, while train usage stands at 8%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

In 2021 Census data, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions, 46% of residents worked from home. Daily service frequency averages 596 trips across all routes, translating to approximately 73 weekly trips per individual stop.

Caulfield South's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Caulfield South's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are low, particularly among younger residents. Approximately 68% of Caulfield South's total population (8,824 people) has private health cover, compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (7.2%) and arthritis (6.5%), with 71.9% of residents reporting no medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Caulfield South has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 20.4%, compared to 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are above average but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Caulfield South 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 South has a significant cultural diversity, with 26.4% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 38.0% born overseas. The predominant religion is Judaism, comprising 39.1% of the population in Caulfield South, which is much higher than the 1.0% average across Greater Melbourne. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Other (20.0%), Australian (19.2%), and English (16.5%).

Notably, Russian (3.9%) Polish (5.9%), and South Australian (3.6%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Caulfield South compared to their regional averages of 0.4%, 0.8%, and 0.4% respectively.

Caulfield South's median age exceeds the national pattern

Caulfield South's median age is 41 years, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, the 75-84 age cohort is notably over-represented in Caulfield South at 8.1%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 11.3%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75-84 age group has grown from 5.5% to 8.1% of Caulfield South's population, and the 15-24 cohort has increased from 10.8% to 13.0%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has declined from 14.0% to 12.7%, and the 65-74 age group has dropped from 11.1% to 9.9%. Demographic modeling suggests that Caulfield South's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 75-84 cohort is projected to grow by 36%, adding 381 residents to reach 1,434. The 15-24 age group is expected to grow at a more modest rate of 1%, adding only 17 residents.