Caulfield North vs Elsternwick

In both, most households own their home. In Elsternwick, about half of households are people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Elsternwick

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (17 vs 3)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 1)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Caulfield North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (5 vs 2)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Caulfield North

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (10.7% vs 5.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.3% vs 2.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.9% vs 4.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Caulfield North and Elsternwick drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Walkability 86 / 92
Caulfield North — Walkability: 86/100 Elsternwick — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 38 / 31
Caulfield North — Safety: 38/100 Elsternwick — Safety: 31/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Caulfield North — Low fire risk: 100/100 Elsternwick — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 66 / 68
Caulfield North — Low flood risk: 66/100 Elsternwick — Low flood risk: 68/100

Demographics

Caulfield North has more residents (16,903 vs 10,887).

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Population 16,903
+36% vs other
 10,887
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +10.7% +5.2%
Median age 37 38
Median household income $114,660/yr $114,868/yr
Median weekly rent $422/wk $441/wk
+5% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Caulfield North Elsternwick
0-4 5.2% / 5.1%
Caulfield North — 0-4: 5.2% Elsternwick — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 10.6% / 11.8%
Caulfield North — 5-14: 10.6% Elsternwick — 5-14: 11.8%
15-19 4.9% / 5.5%
Caulfield North — 15-19: 4.9% Elsternwick — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 7.9% / 5.5%
Caulfield North — 20-24: 7.9% Elsternwick — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 18.1% / 17.0%
Caulfield North — 25-34: 18.1% Elsternwick — 25-34: 17.0%
35-44 13.2% / 14.1%
Caulfield North — 35-44: 13.2% Elsternwick — 35-44: 14.1%
45-54 11.1% / 13.5%
Caulfield North — 45-54: 11.1% Elsternwick — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 9.8% / 11.2%
Caulfield North — 55-64: 9.8% Elsternwick — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 10.6% / 9.1%
Caulfield North — 65-74: 10.6% Elsternwick — 65-74: 9.1%
75-84 5.2% / 4.8%
Caulfield North — 75-84: 5.2% Elsternwick — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 3.4% / 2.4%
Caulfield North — 85+: 3.4% Elsternwick — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Caulfield North 43.5% lone person
Caulfield North — Lone Person: 43.5% Caulfield North — Couple Families: 37.0% Caulfield North — One Parent Families: 9.2% Caulfield North — Group Household: 8.8% Caulfield North — Other Families: 1.5%
Elsternwick 45.3% lone person
Elsternwick — Lone Person: 45.3% Elsternwick — Couple Families: 36.6% Elsternwick — One Parent Families: 10.1% Elsternwick — Group Household: 6.9% Elsternwick — Other Families: 1.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Caulfield North 41.1% renting
Caulfield North — Owned Outright: 32.3% Caulfield North — Mortgage: 26.7% Caulfield North — Renting: 41.1%
Elsternwick 39.6% renting
Elsternwick — Owned Outright: 31.4% Elsternwick — Mortgage: 29.0% Elsternwick — Renting: 39.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Bachelor Degree 28.2% / 27.1%
Caulfield North — Bachelor Degree: 28.2% Elsternwick — Bachelor Degree: 27.1%
Postgraduate Degree 12.4% / 10.7%
Caulfield North — Postgraduate Degree: 12.4% Elsternwick — Postgraduate Degree: 10.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 7.8%
Caulfield North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Elsternwick — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 5.9%
Caulfield North — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% Elsternwick — Certificate III & IV: 5.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.4% / 4.4%
Caulfield North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4% Elsternwick — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.2%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Caulfield North Elsternwick
England 2.7% / 4.0%
Caulfield North — England: 2.7% Elsternwick — England: 4.0%
China 4.8% / 1.2%
Caulfield North — China: 4.8% Elsternwick — China: 1.2%
South Africa 3.8% / 1.9%
Caulfield North — South Africa: 3.8% Elsternwick — South Africa: 1.9%
India 2.8% / 1.3%
Caulfield North — India: 2.8% Elsternwick — India: 1.3%
New Zealand 1.4% / 2.0%
Caulfield North — New Zealand: 1.4% Elsternwick — New Zealand: 2.0%
Ireland — / 1.4%
Caulfield North — Ireland: not among its largest Elsternwick — Ireland: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Caulfield North 39.6% flats / apartments
Caulfield North — Flats / Apartments: 39.6% Caulfield North — Houses: 36.2% Caulfield North — Townhouses: 24.2%
Elsternwick 42.5% flats / apartments
Elsternwick — Flats / Apartments: 42.5% Elsternwick — Houses: 38.2% Elsternwick — Townhouses: 19.3%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Median house price $1,921,500 $2,000,000
Median unit price $571,250 $621,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 57 sales
 25 days
from 43 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Caulfield North Elsternwick
1 bed $392K / $385K
Caulfield North — 1 bed: $392K (56 sales) Elsternwick — 1 bed: $385K (41 sales)

56 vs 41 sales

2 bed $595K / $644K
Caulfield North — 2 bed: $595K (135 sales) Elsternwick — 2 bed: $644K (100 sales)

135 vs 100 sales

3 bed $950K / $1.24M
Caulfield North — 3 bed: $950K (26 sales) Elsternwick — 3 bed: $1.24M (25 sales)

26 vs 25 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Caulfield North Elsternwick
2 bed $1.28M / $1.12M
Caulfield North — 2 bed: $1.28M (12 sales) Elsternwick — 2 bed: $1.12M (6 sales)

12 vs 6 sales

3 bed $1.64M / $1.79M
Caulfield North — 3 bed: $1.64M (50 sales) Elsternwick — 3 bed: $1.79M (46 sales)

50 vs 46 sales

4 bed $2.15M / $2.4M
Caulfield North — 4 bed: $2.15M (28 sales) Elsternwick — 4 bed: $2.4M (27 sales)

28 vs 27 sales

5 bed $3.34M / $2.95M
Caulfield North — 5 bed: $3.34M (10 sales) Elsternwick — 5 bed: $2.95M (9 sales)

10 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Residential 85% 87%
Commercial 3% 7%
Parks and recreation 6% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 5%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Caulfield North Elsternwick
New dwellings approved 617
across Glen Eira
same for both
Approvals change year on year -69%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Houses 3.3%
$1,200/wk on $1.91M
 2.4%
$1,000/wk on $2.2M
Units 5.9%
$650/wk on $575K
 4.8%
$642/wk on $702K

Ranking within VIC

Caulfield North Elsternwick
House price Higher than 97% of VIC
same for both
Income Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Schools Higher than 45% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 2% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 26% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 49% of VIC

Liveability

Elsternwick scores higher overall (86 vs 77).

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Grade A A+
Score 77/100 86/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
62/100
 Moderate
69/100
Flood Low
34/100
 Low
32/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Inside the suburb 6 7
Rated above peers 1 3
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Monash Caulfield, 2.1 km
 3
Monash Caulfield, 3.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.1% 3.1%

Schools in Caulfield North

  • Oakwood School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Caulfield Junior College Government · Primary at peers
  • Caulfield Grammar School - Shelford Campus Independent · Combined
  • Melbourne Grammar School - Grimwade Campus Independent · Combined
  • Shelford Girls' Grammar Independent · Combined
  • MacKillop Specialist School - MacKillop Education Caulfield Catholic · Combined · Special school

Schools in Elsternwick

  • Adass Israel School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Sholem Aleichem College Independent · Primary above peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Leibler Yavneh College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Adass Israel School - Orrong Road Campus Independent · Combined
  • Sholem Aleichem College - Senior Campus Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Supermarkets 3 2
Cafes & restaurants 19
same for both
Parks & reserves 4 3
Childcare 3 17
GPs 5 2
Pharmacies 1 5
Banks & Bank@Post 3 4
Fuel stations 0 2

Mobility

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Walkability score 86/100 92/100
Distance to Melbourne 11 km
+3% vs other
 10.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 22 min
Public transport score 82/100
Tram · Bus
 94/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 395.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 221.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.9%
postcode 3161
 2.6%
postcode 3185
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 10
postcode 3161
 13
postcode 3185

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Worked from Home 47.0% / 51.5%
Caulfield North — Worked from Home: 47.0% Elsternwick — Worked from Home: 51.5%
Car (driver) 41.0% / 35.3%
Caulfield North — Car (driver): 41.0% Elsternwick — Car (driver): 35.3%
Train 4.2% / 5.6%
Caulfield North — Train: 4.2% Elsternwick — Train: 5.6%
Walked Only 2.4% / 3.4%
Caulfield North — Walked Only: 2.4% Elsternwick — Walked Only: 3.4%
Car (passenger) 2.2% / 2.0%
Caulfield North — Car (passenger): 2.2% Elsternwick — Car (passenger): 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (51.5%).

Setting

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Elevation 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.9 km
4.2 km to a named beach
 2.0 km
3.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Connectivity score 76/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 4%
7,741 premises
 4%
5,640 premises

Climate

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Annual rainfall 644 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Caulfield North Elsternwick
PM2.5 7.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Average residential rate $1,577/yr
same for both
Council Glen Eira
same for both

Federal electorate

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Division Macnamara Goldstein
Member Josh Burns Tim Wilson
Party Australian Labor Party Liberal

First Home Owner Grant

Caulfield North Elsternwick
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Caulfield North

Apartments Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

Elsternwick

Apartments Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Caulfield North

Caulfield North vs Malvern East Caulfield North vs St Kilda East Caulfield North vs Malvern Caulfield North vs Armadale Caulfield North vs Caulfield Caulfield North vs Caulfield East

Other comparisons with Elsternwick

Elsternwick vs Brighton Elsternwick vs Elwood Elsternwick vs St Kilda East Elsternwick vs Caulfield South Elsternwick vs Caulfield Elsternwick vs Ripponlea
Full data on Caulfield North Full data on Elsternwick
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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