Caulfield North
The 16,903 residents live at 4,023.1 people per sq km, higher than a detached-family suburb like nearby Malvern, and household income sits in the 83.8 percentile. With 38.0% born overseas and university attainment 33.2 percentage points above national, the suburb combines premium prices with a highly educated, internationally connected population.
Population
16,903
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,205/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
82
Median House
$2.2M
October to December 2025
Choice is broader than the headline suggests: 36.2% separate houses, 39.5% apartments and 24.2% semi-detached homes. Mortgage costs take 26.2% of income, below common stress thresholds, because household incomes are high.
For Buyers
Choice is broader than the headline suggests: 36.2% separate houses, 39.5% apartments and 24.2% semi-detached homes. Mortgage costs take 26.2% of income, below common stress thresholds, because household incomes are high.
For Investors
Caulfield North has a large tenant base, with 41.1% renting and a median weekly rent of $422. The caution is vacancy: 13.4% is high compared with tight rental markets, so tenant selection and property quality matter more than simply buying anywhere in the suburb. Development activity is also active, with 32 applications in 12 months, which can refresh stock but add competition.
Development Activity
Total DAs
98
Last 12 Months
82
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+645.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Caulfield North
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Caulfield Junior College
Oakwood School
Demographics
The median age is 37, which is 3.0 years below national, and the population skews educated and globally linked. University attainment is 63.3%, or 33.2 percentage points above national, while 38.0% were born overseas, 16.4 points above national. Ancestry includes English 3,209, Polish 1,593 and Chinese 1,323 residents, while Judaism is the largest listed religion at 6,891. Compared with nearby Caulfield, the profile feels especially professional and high-income.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
36.2%
Houses
24.2%
Townhouse
39.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is expensive but mixed. Ownership is split between 32.3% owned outright, 26.7% with a mortgage and 41.1% renting.
Mortgage / mo
$2,500
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$422
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,144
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.4%
Unoccupied
1,046
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.3%
Couples with children
45.4%
Couples, no children
10.5%
Single parent
4,266
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce is strongly white-collar, which helps explain household income in the 83.8 percentile. Professional/Tech employs 1,320 people, or 18.6%, followed by Healthcare at 1,301 and 18.3%, Education at 873 and 12.3%, Retail at 530 and Finance at 506. Occupations reinforce the same pattern: Professionals number 3,714 and Managers 1,659. Unemployment is 4.5%, while full-time work accounts for 61.4% of employed residents, supporting higher purchasing power than average.
Unemployment
4.2%
Labour Force
9,364
Unemployed
395
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.9%
Part-time
36.3%
Participation
65.7%
Employed
8,969
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
63.3%
Postgraduate
19.3%
Born Overseas
38.0%
Dwellings
6,765
Transport to Work
Daily life is convenient but still car-oriented: 82.5% drive to work, much higher than the 6.6% using public transport and 6.5% walking or cycling. School choice inside the suburb is compact, with 2 Government schools and an ICSEA range from 968 to 1160; Caulfield Junior College, with 536 enrolments and ICSEA 1160, is the standout local primary option, while Oakwood School has 622 enrolments. Safety is mixed, with 796 offences and a crime rate of 47.1 per 1,000, mostly property and deception offences at 597 cases.
Drive
41.7%
Public Transport
5.1%
Walk / Cycle
3.3%
Work from Home
47.7%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
796
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
47.1
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 North compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caulfield North a good suburb to live in?
Yes, especially for households wanting a premium inner-south setting with high incomes and strong education levels. The suburb has 16,903 residents, a median age of 37 and household income in the 83.8 percentile.
What schools are in Caulfield North?
Caulfield North has 2 listed local schools. Caulfield Junior College is a Government primary with 536 enrolments and ICSEA 1160, while Oakwood School is a Government secondary with 622 enrolments and ICSEA 968.
Is Caulfield North safe?
Caulfield North recorded 796 offences, equal to 47.1 offences per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences dominate with 597 cases, followed by 93 crimes against the person.
Is Caulfield North good for property investment?
It can suit investors seeking a premium market with a large renter pool, as 41.1% of households rent and median rent is $422 per week. The 13.4% vacancy rate is high, so asset selection matters.
How is Caulfield North's population changing?
Caulfield North has 16,903 residents at a density of 4,023.1 people per sq km. Change is likely to come through renewal and migration, with 38.0% born overseas and 32 development applications in 12 months.
What languages are spoken in Caulfield North?
English is common, and overseas-born residents make up 38.0% of the population. Larger listed language groups include Mandarin with 360 speakers, Russian 148, French 146, Greek 120 and Hindi 77.
Is there much development in Caulfield North?
Yes, development activity is notable, with 32 applications recorded in 12 months. Recent applications include townhouse amendments, window changes and tree removal, pointing to site-by-site renewal rather than broad land release.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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