Caulfield - South

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Caulfield - South's population is around 19,207 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,132 people (6.3%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,075 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 18,975 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 325 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 4,052 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area a highly sought resource. Caulfield - South's 6.3% growth since the census positions it within 2.4 percentage points of the SA4 region (8.7%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Regarding demographic trends, an above-median population growth of national statistical areas is projected, with the area expected to expand by 3,101 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 14.9% in total over the 17 years.

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

Caulfield - South has seen around 133 new homes approved annually, totalling 666 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 25 approvals have been recorded. At an average of just 0.3 new residents per year arriving per new home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply is meeting or surpassing demand, providing greater buyer choice while supporting potential for population growth above projections, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $514,000, revealing that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. Additionally, $109.5 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, indicating strong commercial development momentum.

When measured against Greater Melbourne, Caulfield - South records somewhat elevated construction (11.0% above regional average per person over the 5 year period), preserving reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand, though building activity has slowed in recent years. New building activity shows 17.0% standalone homes and 83.0% townhouses or apartments. This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 50.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 178 people per dwelling approval, Caulfield - South shows characteristics of a low density area.

Looking ahead, Caulfield - South is expected to grow by 2,869 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Caulfield - South has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 15 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Former ABC Elsternwick Studio Site (8 Gordon Street), Olive Green, the Elsternwick Cultural Precinct, and the Fabric Residential Development, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

While Caulfield - South retains a healthy unemployment rate of 3.8%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

Caulfield - South possesses a highly educated workforce, with professional services showing strong representation, an unemployment rate of only 3.8%, and relative employment stability over the past year. As of December 2025, 10,462 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.9% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (68.4% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%). Based on Census responses, a high 45.9% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The key industries of employment among residents are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in professional & technical, with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average. Meanwhile, construction has a limited presence with 5.9% employment compared to 9.7% regionally. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.3% alongside a 0.2% employment decline, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.2 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne, where employment rose by 2.4%, the labour force grew by 2.8%, and unemployment rose 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Caulfield - South. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Caulfield - South's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.6% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

The Caulfield - South SA2 shows a median taxpayer income of $65,561 and an average of $101,861 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. This is exceptionally high nationally, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $70,970 (median) and $110,265 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Caulfield - South, between the 82nd and 83rd percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 27.0% of residents (5,185 people), reflecting patterns seen at regional levels where 32.8% similarly occupy this range. Economic strength emerges through 38.9% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 82nd percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Dwelling structure within Caulfield - South, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 50.0% houses and 50.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Caulfield - South was well beyond that of Melbourne metro, at 38.0%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (33.6%) or rented (28.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Melbourne metro average at $2,798, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $483, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000 and $390. Nationally, Caulfield - South's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 71.2% of all households, comprising 34.8% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 8.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 28.8%, with lone person households at 24.8% and group households comprising 4.0% of the total. The median household size of 2.5 people is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Educational attainment in Caulfield - South significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 52.3% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% in Australia and 33.4% in VIC. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 35.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.7%). Vocational pathways account for 21.2% of qualifications among those aged 15+ – advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (10.3%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.0% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 7.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 84 active transport stops operating within Caulfield - South, comprising a mix of light rail and buses. These stops are serviced by 8 individual routes, collectively providing 4,585 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 183 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 80%, with 9% by train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling. A high 45.9% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 655 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 54 weekly trips per individual stop.

Caulfield - South's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data indicates relatively positive outcomes for Caulfield - South residents, with AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions showing results broadly in line with national benchmarks. A fairly standard level of common health conditions is seen across both young and old age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 71% of the total population (13,713 people). This compares to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 8.0% and 6.4% of residents, respectively, while 71.1% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents are notably healthy with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 21.8% of residents aged 65 and over (4,179 people), which is higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings broadly in line with the general 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 scores highly on cultural diversity, with 27.8% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 39.3% born overseas. The main religion in Caulfield - South is Judaism, which makes up 40.8% of the population. This compares to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Caulfield - South are Other, comprising 20.7% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 14.6%, Australian, comprising 18.6% of the population, and English, comprising 16.0% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Polish is notably overrepresented at 6.1% of Caulfield - South (vs 0.8% regionally), Russian at 4.0% (vs 0.4%) and South Australian at 3.7% (vs 0.4%).

Caulfield - South's population is slightly older than the national pattern

At 41 years, Caulfield - South's median age is significantly above the Greater Melbourne average of 37 as well as somewhat older than the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Greater Melbourne average, the 75 - 84 cohort is notably over-represented (8.4% locally), while 25 - 34 year-olds are under-represented (12.2%). Following the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 6.0% to 8.4% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 11.1% to 13.1%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.5% to 12.3% and the 65 to 74 group dropped from 11.5% to 10.3%. Demographic modeling suggests Caulfield - South's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 75 to 84 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 38%, adding 622 residents to reach 2,244. The 15 to 24 group displays more modest growth at 1%, adding only 22 residents.