Caulfield East
Caulfield East has 1,293 residents across just 1.26 square kilometres, while its median age of 32 is 8 years below the national figure. University attainment reaches 58.9%, or 28.8 percentage points above national levels, and 40.9% of residents were born overseas, 19.3 points above the national comparison. Compared with nearby Caulfield and Carnegie, the suburb has a compact, apartment and townhouse-oriented profile, but its 21.7% vacancy rate also signals a mobile housing market.
Local council: Glen Eira
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
14
Median House
$1.6M
October to December 2025
Only a handful of houses sold here in this period, so this median can jump sharply from one quarter to the next for reasons that have nothing to do with the market. Treat it as a rough guide, not a settled price.
The housing mix is varied, with 38.4% separate houses, 33.9% semi-detached homes and 27.2% apartments. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 31.1% and three-bedroom homes 29.7%, suiting smaller households. Mortgage repayments of $2,167 per month represent 29.8% of income and are not flagged as stressed, although the purchase cost remains higher than the recent trough.
For Buyers
The housing mix is varied, with 38.4% separate houses, 33.9% semi-detached homes and 27.2% apartments. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 31.1% and three-bedroom homes 29.7%, suiting smaller households. Mortgage repayments of $2,167 per month represent 29.8% of income and are not flagged as stressed, although the purchase cost remains higher than the recent trough.
For Investors
Caulfield East has a substantial rental base, with 45.7% of dwellings rented compared with 25.4% owned outright. Weekly rent is $320, while the 21.7% vacancy rate is below the renting share but higher than the outright ownership share, pointing to tenant demand alongside frequent listing turnover. Resident mobility supports this interpretation: 40.4% of people changed address during the relevant period, compared with 59.6% who stayed. Fourteen development applications in 12 months indicate ongoing planning activity, including heritage works, food and drink premises and a gym. Investors should weigh that activity against vacancy, because higher available stock can moderate rental competition.
Development Activity
Total DAs
17
Last 12 Months
14
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+1300.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Caulfield East
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Glen Eira College
Demographics
Caulfield East skews younger and more highly educated than national benchmarks. The median age is 32, which is 8 years below the national comparison, while 58.9% of residents have university qualifications, 28.8 percentage points above the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 40.9%, or 19.3 points above the national level. English ancestry is recorded for 336 people, followed by Irish at 162, Chinese at 155 and Scottish at 104. No religion is the largest reported affiliation at 578 people, ahead of Christianity at 452 and Judaism at 53. The average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below the national comparison, consistent with a smaller-household profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
38.4%
Houses
33.9%
Townhouse
27.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing values have moved upward over the longer term but remain below the recent peak. The reported nine-year compound growth rate is 2.6%. Tenure is mixed: 45.7% rent, 26.8% have a mortgage and 25.4% own outright. Separate houses represent 38.4% of dwellings, compared with 33.9% semi-detached homes and 27.2% apartments. Two-bedroom homes are the largest bedroom group at 31.1%, and rent consumes 19.0% of income compared with 29.8% for mortgage payments.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$320
Census 2021
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
46.6%
Couples with children
42.0%
Couples, no children
11.0%
Single parent
281
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is concentrated in education, healthcare and professional services, which together account for 43.1% of industry employment. Education leads at 15.7% and 88 workers, followed by healthcare at 14.4% and 81, then professional and technical work at 13.0% and 73. Retail contributes 10.0% and construction 7.5%. The occupational profile is similarly skilled: 237 professionals are recorded, higher than the 123 managers, with 84 community and personal service workers and 80 trades workers. Labour-force participation is 68.4%, unemployment is 5.4%, and full-time employment at 412 people is higher than part-time employment at 288. This mix supports household incomes that sit at the 58.4th percentile nationally.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
783
Unemployed
42
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.6%
Part-time
38.9%
Participation
68.4%
Employed
741
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
58.9%
Postgraduate
18.8%
Born Overseas
40.9%
Dwellings
563
Transport to Work
Daily life combines strong work-from-home capacity with a mixed transport pattern. Working from home is reported for 44.6% of residents, while 39.1% drive a car and 10.3% use public transport, making car use higher than public transport use. Walking or cycling accounts for 3.6%. One government secondary school, Glen Eira College, is located in the suburb, and families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because access can differ across nearby boundaries. The recorded crime rate is 304.7 incidents per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences the largest category at 216, higher than drug offences at 60 and crimes against the person at 57. Street-level conditions and building security deserve attention.
Drive
39.1%
Public Transport
10.3%
Walk / Cycle
3.6%
Work from Home
44.6%
Growth Outlook
Caulfield East has recorded measurable price growth despite a recent correction. The market also remains 14.8% below its Jan-Mar 2025 peak, showing that momentum has not been uniform. Population change is shaped by mobility, with 40.4% turnover compared with 59.6% of residents staying at the same address. Fourteen development applications over 12 months add further signs of change, particularly through heritage works and new or modified commercial uses. Growth is therefore more visible in prices, resident churn and planning activity than in a large-scale housing pipeline.
Population trend: Glen Eira council area
Caulfield East sits in the Glen Eira council area. These are the council area's residents, not Caulfield East's.
Residents 2025
163,025
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.6%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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
What schools are in Caulfield East?
Caulfield East has 1 listed school: Glen Eira College, a government secondary school. Families should compare the exact address with current enrolment zones, because school access can differ across suburb boundaries and nearby areas may have a different sector or year-level mix.
Is Caulfield East safe?
Recorded crime is 304.7 incidents per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences total 216, higher than drug offences at 60 and crimes against the person at 57. Safety can vary by street and building, so compare local conditions, lighting and apartment security before deciding, rather than relying on the suburb-wide rate alone.
Is Caulfield East good for property investment?
The rental base is substantial at 45.7%, with weekly rent of $320 and 14 development applications in 12 months. However, the 21.7% vacancy rate is below the renting share but higher than outright ownership at 25.4%, so investors should allow for competition between available properties and review the building type carefully.
How is Caulfield East's population changing?
Caulfield East has 1,293 residents, with 40.4% turnover and 59.6% staying at the same address. Turnover is lower than the stayed share, but still indicates a mobile population. Development activity reached 14 applications in 12 months, so change is more evident through resident churn and planning activity than through a large recorded housing pipeline.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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