Caulfield - South

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 is around 19,207 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,132 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,075. The change is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 18,975 in June 2024 and an additional 325 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 4,052 persons per square kilometer, placing Caulfield - South in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 6.3% growth since the census is within 2.4 percentage points of its SA4 region (8.7%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, it utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made using weighted aggregation methods. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, an above median growth is projected for Caulfield - South, expecting a population increase of 3,101 persons by 2041, reflecting a total gain of 14.9% over the 17 years.

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, 24 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.3 new residents arrive per year 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 preserves reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand, despite a recent slowdown in building activity. The majority of new developments consist of townhouses or apartments (83.0%), with standalone homes making up only 17.0%. This shift towards denser development provides accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers, reflecting decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles.

With approximately 178 people per dwelling approval, Caulfield - South is considered a low-density area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the suburb is expected to grow by around 2,869 residents by 2041. With 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 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 15 projects likely impacting this area. Notable ones 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.

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

Caulfield - South has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate is 4.0%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.7%. As of September 2025, 10,496 residents are employed, with a participation rate of 68.7% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%.

Home working is prevalent at 45.9%. Dominant sectors include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area specialises in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. Construction has limited presence at 5.9% compared to 9.7% regionally.

Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by Census data. Over September 2024 to September 2025, employment increased by 0.0%, labour force by 0.6%, and unemployment rose by 0.5 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 14.6% over ten years. Applying these projections to Caulfield - South's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 7.3% 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

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2023 shows Caulfield - South SA2 has top percentile national incomes. The median is $65,561 and average is $101,861. Melbourne's median income is $57,688 and average is $75,164. By September 2025, estimated incomes are approximately $70,970 (median) and $110,265 (average), based on an 8.25% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. Census data ranks Caulfield - South's household, family, and personal incomes between the 82nd and 83rd percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows 27.0% (5,185 individuals) earn $1,500-$2,999 weekly, mirroring surrounding regions at 32.8%. High earners comprise 38.9%, indicating strong economic capacity. Housing costs consume 15.5% of income, but disposable income ranks at the 82nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking is in the 9th decile.

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

In Caulfield - South, as per the latest Census evaluation, 50.0% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 50.1% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types of dwellings. In contrast, Melbourne metropolitan area had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Caulfield - South stood at 38.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.6% and rented ones at 28.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,798, exceeding Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Caulfield - South was $483, higher than Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Caulfield - South's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,798 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were 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 constitute 71.2% of all households, including 34.8% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 8.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 28.8%, with lone person households at 24.8% and group households making up 4.0%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which 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

In Caulfield - South, the proportion of residents aged 15 and above with university qualifications is significantly higher than national and state averages. 52.3% of residents in this area have 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, 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.

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 routes. These are operated by 8 individual routes, collectively facilitating 4,585 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 183 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 80%, while train usage stands at 9%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 45.9% of residents work from home, which 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

Caulfield - South residents show positive health outcomes, matching national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions. Common health issues affect both young and old age groups similarly. Private health cover is exceptionally high at 71% of the total population (13,713 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7% and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues impact 8.0% of residents, while arthritis affects 6.4%, with 71.1% reporting no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 21.8% of residents aged 65 and over (4,179 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Senior health outcomes are above average, aligning with national rankings for 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 has high cultural diversity, with 27.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 39.3% born overseas. The predominant religion is Judaism, comprising 40.8%, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's 1.0%. Top ancestry groups include Other (20.7%), Australian (18.6%), and English (16.0%).

Notably, Polish (6.1%) and Russian (4.0%) are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.8% and 0.4%, respectively. South African ancestry is also higher at 3.7%.

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

Caulfield - South's median age is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and slightly older than Australia's median of 38. Compared to the Greater Melbourne average, Caulfield - South has a notably over-represented 75-84 cohort (8.4% locally) and an under-represented 25-34 age group (12.2%). Post the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 6.0% to 8.4%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 11.1% to 13.1%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort declined from 13.5% to 12.3%, and the 65 to 74 group dropped from 11.5% to 10.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Caulfield - South's age profile will change significantly. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to grow by 38%, adding 622 residents to reach 2,244. The 15 to 24 group is expected to grow by 1%, adding only 22 residents.