Caulfield
The suburb has 5,748 residents across 1.47 square kilometres, creating a dense 3,909.9 people per square kilometre. Its median age of 42 is 2 years above national, and 42.1% were born overseas, 20.5 points higher than nationally. Buyers often compare Caulfield with Carnegie and Glen Huntly; the local profile leans more toward established wealth, smaller households of 2.4 people and an aging trajectory than a growth-frontier market.
Population
5,748
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,143/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
30
Median House
$1.9M
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.
Housing is mixed: 39.9% separate houses, 37.9% semi-detached dwellings and 21.5% apartments. Three-bedroom homes make up 35.5%, and 4-plus-bedroom homes 27.7%. A $2,500 monthly mortgage equals 26.9% of household income, while $475 weekly rent equals 22.2%. Compared with a detached-only market, Caulfield gives buyers more format choice, but the correction has not removed its premium barrier.
For Buyers
Housing is mixed: 39.9% separate houses, 37.9% semi-detached dwellings and 21.5% apartments. Three-bedroom homes make up 35.5%, and 4-plus-bedroom homes 27.7%. A $2,500 monthly mortgage equals 26.9% of household income, while $475 weekly rent equals 22.2%. Compared with a detached-only market, Caulfield gives buyers more format choice, but the correction has not removed its premium barrier.
For Investors
Caulfield's investment case rests on established demand rather than high-yield pricing. Weekly rent is $475 and 32.3% of households rent, creating a meaningful tenant base. The 9.0% vacancy rate gives renters more choice than a tightly constrained market, so investors should allow for leasing competition. Twenty-six development applications in 12 months indicate property activity, including alterations and 2-lot subdivision examples, but do not guarantee new rental stock. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while the 0.99% annual forecast is slower than a rapid expansion corridor. A 26.9% mortgage-to-income ratio and 22.2% rent-to-income ratio indicate costs are not broadly flagged as stressed.
Development Activity
Total DAs
38
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Caulfield has an older and more highly educated profile than national benchmarks: median age is 42, or 2 years above national, while university attainment is 57.5%, 27.4 points higher. Overseas-born residents comprise 42.1%, 20.5 points above the national share. Polish ancestry numbers 481 people, while Russian, Mandarin and Greek are the leading recorded languages at 131, 81 and 72. Judaism is the most reported religion at 2,381 people, ahead of no religion at 1,488. Average household size is 2.4, 0.1 below national, and couples without children make up 42.4%. Compared with nearby Carnegie and Glen Huntly, Caulfield is better approached as an established, premium market than as an affordability play, with an aging trajectory shaping demand.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
39.9%
Houses
37.9%
Townhouse
21.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Caulfield's housing cycle has been uneven. Tenure is split between 38.2% owning outright, 28.1% paying a mortgage and 32.3% renting. Housing is more varied than a detached-house market, with 39.9% separate houses, 37.9% semi-detached dwellings and 21.5% apartments.
Mortgage / mo
$2,500
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $475.
$650
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $850 · units $630
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$978
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.0%
Unoccupied
211
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
43.2%
Couples with children
42.4%
Couples, no children
12.4%
Single parent
1,478
Total families
Economy & Employment
Caulfield's income and employment profile sits above national norms, with household income at the 81.6th percentile and unemployment at 4.3% from a labour force of 2,996. The leading industries are Healthcare at 17.5% or 390 workers, Professional/Tech at 17.3% or 385, Education at 12.4% or 275, Retail at 7.7% or 172 and Finance at 7.5% or 166. Professionals number 1,086 and managers 499, ahead of clerical/admin at 347. IEO and IRSAD are both decile 10, while IER is 7 and IRSD is 9, placing Caulfield above most areas on advantage but showing variation. This matters because 9.7%, or 537 residents, need assistance.
Unemployment
4.3%
Labour Force
2,996
Unemployed
128
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
37.0%
Participation
61.6%
Employed
2,868
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
57.5%
Postgraduate
14.4%
Born Overseas
42.1%
Dwellings
2,145
Transport to Work
Daily life in Caulfield is shaped by a high work-from-home share and strong car dependence. Travel patterns include 47.4% working from home, 43.2% driving and 4.1% using public transport, while 2.7% walk or cycle. That makes home layout and local access important because households may need both a workable study area and convenient connections. Crime totalled 317 offences at 55.1 per 1,000 residents; property and deception offences accounted for 194, compared with 45 crimes against the person. Socioeconomic conditions are strong: IRSAD is decile 10 and IRSD decile 9, placing Caulfield above most areas on advantage. Check exact streets and evening routes before buying, since suburb-wide figures can conceal local variation.
Drive
43.2%
Public Transport
4.1%
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
47.4%
Population Forecast
+0.99%/yr
(+245 people/yr)
EstablishedCaulfield's established growth path is steady rather than expansion-led. The forecast trend is 0.99% a year, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 13.1% over 10 years, while the trajectory is Aging: the senior share has increased 3.4 percentage points and the working share has fallen 1.7 points. Gentrification is rated 16 and staged as Not gentrifying, although the shift measure records a score of 35 and Early signs. This mixed signal suggests incremental change through migration and a 26.3% household turnover rate rather than a wholesale reset. Compared with a rapid-growth corridor, the profile is slower and more mature.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+555
Net Internal / yr
-172
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +19% since 2011, Net internal outflow -172/yr, Strong overseas inflow +555/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
317
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
55.1
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 compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Caulfield?
Use the exact address to confirm nearby school catchments, since Caulfield covers only 1.47 square kilometres and boundaries can cross surrounding suburbs. Check government, Catholic and independent options, along with travel times and enrolment rules, before committing to a property.
Is Caulfield safe?
Safety is mixed by offence type rather than captured by one label. Caulfield recorded 317 offences, including 194 property and deception offences and 45 crimes against the person. The rate was 55.1 per 1,000 residents, so compare the exact street, time and offence pattern before deciding.
Is Caulfield good for property investment?
It can suit a long-term investor who accepts a premium entry price. Rent is $475 a week, renting accounts for 32.3% of households and vacancy is 9.0%, giving tenants more choice than in a tightly constrained market. Twenty-six development applications in 12 months add activity, but not guaranteed supply.
How is Caulfield's population changing?
Caulfield has 5,748 residents today, with population change across the wider area forecast at 13.1% over 10 years and annual growth of 0.99%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the trajectory is Aging and senior share has risen 3.4 percentage points. Growth is steadier than in a frontier corridor.
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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