Caulfield - South
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Caulfield - South's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 19,417. This figure represents an increase of 1,342 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 18,075. The rise was inferred from the estimated resident population of 18,975 in June 2024 and an additional 324 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 4,096 persons per square kilometer, placing Caulfield - South among the top 10% of locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 7.4% since the 2021 census surpassed the SA4 region's growth rate of 7.1%. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. According to population projections, Caulfield - South is expected to grow by 3,101 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 13.7% over the 17-year period.

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

Caulfield - South has seen approximately 133 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 666 homes. As of FY26, 19 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.3 new residents per year arrive for each new home constructed between FY21 and FY25, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand. The average construction value of these properties is $514,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

In FY26, $109.5 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, demonstrating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Caulfield - South has seen elevated construction activity, at 11.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This has preserved reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. However, building activity has slowed in recent years. The majority of new developments are townhouses or apartments (83.0%), with standalone homes making up only 17.0%.

This shift reflects decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles, as well as the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 178 people per dwelling approval, Caulfield - South is considered a growth area. By 2041, it is expected to grow by approximately 2,659 residents. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Caulfield - South has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 15 such projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable among these are Fabric Residential Development, Former ABC Elsternwick Studio Site (8 Gordon Street), Olive Green, and Elsternwick Cultural Precinct. The following list details those projects expected to be 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.

Employment conditions in Caulfield - South remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Caulfield - South has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate was 4.0% as of June 2025, which is 0.6% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%.

Workforce participation in Caulfield - South is on par with Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The dominant employment sectors are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Notably, the area specializes in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. Conversely, construction has limited presence with 5.9% employment compared to the regional average of 9.7%.

Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 0.2%, while labour force grew by 1.4%, leading to an unemployment rise of 1.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5% and unemployment rose by 0.5 percentage points during the same period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May 2025, 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 growth of approximately 7.3% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, although these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localized population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 30, 2022 shows that Caulfield - South has one of the highest incomes nationally. The median income is $63,596 and the average income stands at $101,539. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's figures where the median income is $54,892 and the average income is $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% between July 1, 2022 and September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $71,329 (median) and $113,886 (average). Census data reveals that household, family and personal incomes in Caulfield - South rank highly nationally, between the 82nd and 83rd percentiles. Income distribution shows that 27.0% of the population (5,242 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to the surrounding region where 32.8% occupy this bracket. A substantial proportion of high earners, 38.9%, have incomes above $3,000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity throughout Caulfield - South. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 82nd percentile nationally. 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

Caulfield - South's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 50.0% houses and 50.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 47.8% houses and 52.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Caulfield - South was at 38.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.6% and rented ones at 28.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,798, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,396. The median weekly rent in Caulfield - South was $483, compared to Melbourne metro's $435. Nationally, Caulfield - South's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863, and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Caulfield - South features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households make up 71.2% of all households, consisting of 34.8% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 8.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.8%, with lone person households at 24.8% and group households comprising 4.0%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which matches 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

Educational attainment in Caulfield-South is significantly higher than broader benchmarks. 52.3% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common 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 and above, with advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 10.3%.

Educational participation is 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. Caulfield-South has five schools with a combined enrollment of 1,137 students, demonstrating significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement (ICSEA: 1131). The educational mix includes two primary schools and three K-12 schools. Local school capacity is limited at 5.9 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.2, leading many families to travel to nearby areas for schooling.

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

Caulfield - South has 84 active public transport stops, serving a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are covered by 8 different routes, collectively handling 4,229 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 183 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 604 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 50 weekly trips per individual stop.

Caulfield - South's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Caulfield - South residents show positive health outcomes, with low prevalence of common conditions across all ages. Private health cover stands at 72%, compared to 65.2% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues affect 8.0% and arthritis impacts 6.4% of residents.

71.1% report no medical ailments, slightly lower than the Greater Melbourne figure of 74.0%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors at 21.2%, compared to 16.8% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are above average and align with the general population's health profile.

Caulfield - South 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-South scores highly in cultural diversity, with 27.8% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 39.3% born overseas. The predominant religion is Judaism, comprising 40.8% of the population, compared to 17.5% across Greater Melbourne. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Other (20.7%), Australian (18.6%), and English (16.0%).

Notably, Polish (6.1%) is overrepresented compared to the regional average of 3.1%, as are Russian (4.0% vs 2.2%) and South African (3.7% vs 1.4%) groups.

Caulfield - South's median age exceeds the national pattern

Caulfield - South's median age is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and slightly above Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to the Greater Melbourne average, Caulfield - South has a notably over-represented cohort of residents aged 75-84 (7.8%), while those aged 25-34 are under-represented (12.6%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 grew from 11.1% to 13.0%, and the 75-84 cohort increased from 6.0% to 7.8%. Conversely, the 65-74 age group declined from 11.5% to 10.4%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 13.5% to 12.4%. Demographic modeling predicts significant changes in Caulfield - South's age profile by 2041. The 75-84 cohort is projected to grow by 48%, adding 729 residents, reaching a total of 2,244. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 56% of the population growth. The 0-4 age group is projected to grow at a more modest rate of 2%, adding only 17 residents.