Caulfield East
With a median house price of $1,510,000 and a median resident age of 32, Caulfield East stands out as a premium suburb anchored by a younger-than-average population. The 32 median age sits 8 years below the national figure, yet the suburb commands prices above most of metropolitan Melbourne. University qualifications reach 58.9%, which is 28.8 percentage points higher than the national average, explaining why education and healthcare, together accounting for 30% of local employment, dominate the economy here. A vacancy rate of 21.7% and a renter share of 46.7% shape a market where landlords and tenants both operate in volume.
Population
1,293
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,682/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Median House
$1.5M
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price was $1,510,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, down 13.0% from the peak of $1,735,000 in Oct-Dec 2023. That correction brings prices closer to a 5-year CAGR of 5.3% since Apr-Jun 2023, when the median was $1,227,000, representing a 23.1% gain over the period. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold, favourable compared to many inner Melbourne suburbs. The stock skews away from detached houses, with only 38.4% being separate dwellings, while semi-detached homes make up 33.9% and apartments 27.2%. Two-bedroom and three-bedroom dwellings together account for 60.8% of all properties, signalling strong competition for family-sized homes in this compact 1.26 km2 suburb.
For Buyers
The median house price was $1,510,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, down 13.0% from the peak of $1,735,000 in Oct-Dec 2023. That correction brings prices closer to a 5-year CAGR of 5.3% since Apr-Jun 2023, when the median was $1,227,000, representing a 23.1% gain over the period. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold, favourable compared to many inner Melbourne suburbs. The stock skews away from detached houses, with only 38.4% being separate dwellings, while semi-detached homes make up 33.9% and apartments 27.2%. Two-bedroom and three-bedroom dwellings together account for 60.8% of all properties, signalling strong competition for family-sized homes in this compact 1.26 km2 suburb.
For Investors
A renter share of 46.7% gives investors a wide tenant base in Caulfield East, with the weekly rent sitting at $320. Against the $1,510,000 median house price, this implies a gross yield below 1.1%, low by Melbourne standards. The 21.7% vacancy rate is the most significant risk: it is well above the typical healthy threshold of around 3%, pointing to oversupply in the rental segment, particularly among apartments and semi-detached stock. Development activity logged 12 planning applications in the past 12 months, indicating low new supply pressure. Household income sits at the 58.4th percentile nationally, above the middle range, supporting tenant affordability at a rent-to-income ratio of just 19.0%, which keeps demand stable for well-priced rentals.
Development Activity
Total DAs
15
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+300.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Caulfield East iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Glen Eira College
7-12 · 883 students
Demographics
The median age of 32 is 8 years below the national figure, making Caulfield East one of the younger premium suburbs in Melbourne's inner south-east. Overseas-born residents make up 40.9% of the population, which is 19.3 percentage points above the national average, reflecting the suburb's appeal to international students and skilled migrants. English and Irish ancestry lead (336 and 162 residents respectively), followed closely by Chinese ancestry at 155. Mandarin is the most common non-English language at 36 speakers, with Greek and Nepali also present. University qualifications at 58.9% are 28.8 points above the national rate, consistent with proximity to Monash University and Caulfield Campus. Couples with children number 322, compared to 236 couples without children, suggesting this young demographic leans toward family formation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
38.4%
Houses
33.9%
Townhouse
27.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split with 46.7% renting, 27.4% on a mortgage and 25.9% owning outright, a renter-majority suburb compared to the national ownership norm. Outright owners are low in proportion because the population skews young and the median age is 32. The housing mix is relatively balanced: separate houses at 38.4%, semi-detached at 33.9% and apartments at 27.2%. Bedroom distribution shows 31.1% are two-bedroom and 29.7% three-bedroom, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 19.5%. The price history shows a peak of $1,735,000 in Oct-Dec 2023, a trough of $1,227,000 in Apr-Jun 2023, and the latest median of $1,510,000, a 13.0% retreat from peak. Over 4 years from the earliest data, the suburb recorded a CAGR of 5.3%, placing price growth above broad inflation benchmarks.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$320
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$868
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
21.7%
Unoccupied
156
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.8%
Couples, no children
792
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education leads local industry at 15.7% of workers (88 residents), followed by Healthcare at 14.4% (81) and Professional/Tech at 13.0% (73). Retail employs 10.0% and Construction 7.5%. By occupation, Professionals make up the largest group at 237, with Managers at 123 and Community/Personal Service workers at 84. Full-time employment runs at 58.9% and the unemployment rate is 5.7%, slightly above the national average, partly because 46 residents are studying. Weekly household income of $1,682 places the suburb at the 58.4th percentile nationally, above median but not in the top tier given the premium house prices. Volunteering participation of 16.8% reflects a reasonably engaged local community for a suburb of this density.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.9%
Part-time
35.4%
Participation
64.9%
Employed
700
Occupations
Top Industries
University
58.9%
Postgraduate
18.8%
Born Overseas
40.9%
Dwellings
563
Transport to Work
Car use is the dominant transport mode at 70.7% of commuters, with public transport at 18.6% and walking or cycling at 6.6%, figures broadly in line with inner-Melbourne norms. No schools are recorded within the Caulfield East boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in adjacent suburbs. Crime totals 394 incidents at a rate of 304.7 per 1,000 residents, driven primarily by property and deception offences (216 incidents) and drug offences (60 incidents). This rate is high compared to many outer-suburban areas, a pattern common to higher-density inner suburbs with significant transient populations. SEIFA data is not available for this suburb at the small-area level. Rent stress is low, with rent-to-income at 19.0% and mortgage-to-income at 29.8%, both below common stress benchmarks.
Drive
70.7%
Public Transport
18.6%
Walk / Cycle
6.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
394
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
304.7
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Caulfield East compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caulfield East a good suburb to live in?
Caulfield East offers a premium housing market with a $1,510,000 median house price and strong education credentials, with 58.9% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 28.8 percentage points above the national rate. The main considerations are the 21.7% vacancy rate signalling rental oversupply and a crime rate of 304.7 per 1,000 residents driven largely by property offences.
What is the median house price in Caulfield East?
The median house price in Caulfield East was $1,510,000 in Apr-Jun 2024. Prices peaked at $1,735,000 in Oct-Dec 2023 and have since pulled back 13.0%. Over the 4 years from Apr-Jun 2023, the suburb delivered a CAGR of 5.3%, with prices rising 23.1% from the $1,227,000 trough. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167.
What schools are in Caulfield East?
No schools are recorded within the Caulfield East boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring suburbs such as Caulfield, Glen Huntly and Carnegie. The suburb's own population is highly educated, with 58.9% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 28.8 points above the national average.
Is Caulfield East safe?
Crime in Caulfield East totals 394 recorded incidents at a rate of 304.7 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 216 of these, followed by drug offences at 60 and crimes against the person at 57. This rate is higher than many outer Melbourne suburbs, a pattern common to compact inner-city areas with large rental and transient populations.
Is Caulfield East good for property investment?
Caulfield East has a renter share of 46.7%, providing a large tenant pool, but the 21.7% vacancy rate signals oversupply in rental stock. Weekly rent of $320 against a $1,510,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.1%, low for Melbourne. The house price CAGR of 5.3% over 4 years suggests the suburb rewards patient capital-growth investors more than yield-focused buyers.
How is Caulfield East's population changing?
The suburb has a current population of 1,293 across 1.26 km2, giving a density of 1,027 residents per km2. The median age of 32 is 8 years below the national figure, with 40.4% of residents having moved in the 5 years prior to the Census, reflecting high turnover consistent with a student and young-professional demographic.
What languages are spoken in Caulfield East?
About 40.9% of residents were born overseas, which is 19.3 percentage points above the national average. The most common non-English languages are Mandarin (36 speakers), Greek (19) and Nepali (18), with Hindi at 11. Chinese ancestry is the third largest at 155 residents, behind English and Irish.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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