Caulfield South vs Brighton East

Caulfield South is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 45 in Brighton East. In both, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. In Brighton East, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Brighton East: a median of $2.12 million, against $1.75 million in Caulfield South, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Caulfield South tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Brighton East

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 5)
  • has more childcare (13 vs 10)
  • But Caulfield South has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Caulfield South

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($676,000 vs $955,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,750,000 vs $2,122,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Caulfield South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($496/wk vs $600/wk)

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 South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (45% vs 32%)

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

Investors

Caulfield South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.0% vs 3.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Caulfield South and Brighton East 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 South Brighton East
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 South Brighton East
Walkability 83 / 80
Caulfield South — Walkability: 83/100 Brighton East — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 53 / 54
Caulfield South — Safety: 53/100 Brighton East — Safety: 54/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Caulfield South — Low fire risk: 100/100 Brighton East — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 56 / 65
Caulfield South — Low flood risk: 56/100 Brighton East — Low flood risk: 65/100

Demographics

Brighton East has more residents (16,757 vs 12,328); Brighton East rents higher ($600/wk vs $496/wk).

Caulfield South Brighton East
Population 12,328 16,757
+36% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.0% +4.7%
Median age 41 45
Median household income $122,980/yr $132,288/yr
+8% vs other
Median weekly rent $496/wk $600/wk
+21% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Caulfield South Brighton East
0-4 5.6% / 4.4%
Caulfield South — 0-4: 5.6% Brighton East — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 12.6% / 14.5%
Caulfield South — 5-14: 12.6% Brighton East — 5-14: 14.5%
15-19 5.6% / 7.3%
Caulfield South — 15-19: 5.6% Brighton East — 15-19: 7.3%
20-24 5.2% / 5.0%
Caulfield South — 20-24: 5.2% Brighton East — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 11.7% / 6.8%
Caulfield South — 25-34: 11.7% Brighton East — 25-34: 6.8%
35-44 14.0% / 11.4%
Caulfield South — 35-44: 14.0% Brighton East — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 14.0% / 15.8%
Caulfield South — 45-54: 14.0% Brighton East — 45-54: 15.8%
55-64 11.8% / 12.7%
Caulfield South — 55-64: 11.8% Brighton East — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 11.1% / 9.6%
Caulfield South — 65-74: 11.1% Brighton East — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 5.5% / 7.3%
Caulfield South — 75-84: 5.5% Brighton East — 75-84: 7.3%
85+ 2.9% / 5.1%
Caulfield South — 85+: 2.9% Brighton East — 85+: 5.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Caulfield South 50.5% couple families
Caulfield South — Couple Families: 50.5% Caulfield South — Lone Person: 32.6% Caulfield South — One Parent Families: 11.1% Caulfield South — Group Household: 4.6% Caulfield South — Other Families: 1.2%
Brighton East 52.2% couple families
Brighton East — Couple Families: 52.2% Brighton East — Lone Person: 31.6% Brighton East — One Parent Families: 13.0% Brighton East — Group Household: 2.5% Brighton East — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Caulfield South 26.5% renting
Caulfield South — Owned Outright: 37.4% Caulfield South — Mortgage: 36.0% Caulfield South — Renting: 26.5%
Brighton East 20.7% renting
Brighton East — Owned Outright: 43.0% Brighton East — Mortgage: 36.3% Brighton East — Renting: 20.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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 South Brighton East
South Africa 5.7% / 1.8%
Caulfield South — South Africa: 5.7% Brighton East — South Africa: 1.8%
England 3.0% / 4.5%
Caulfield South — England: 3.0% Brighton East — England: 4.5%
China 2.4% / 3.9%
Caulfield South — China: 2.4% Brighton East — China: 3.9%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.4%
Caulfield South — New Zealand: 1.7% Brighton East — New Zealand: 1.4%
India 1.6% / 1.2%
Caulfield South — India: 1.6% Brighton East — India: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.7%).

Qualifications

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

Caulfield South Brighton East
Bachelor Degree 25.8% / 23.5%
Caulfield South — Bachelor Degree: 25.8% Brighton East — Bachelor Degree: 23.5%
Postgraduate Degree 9.5% / 8.7%
Caulfield South — Postgraduate Degree: 9.5% Brighton East — Postgraduate Degree: 8.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 8.0%
Caulfield South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Brighton East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Certificate III & IV 6.0% / 5.3%
Caulfield South — Certificate III & IV: 6.0% Brighton East — Certificate III & IV: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 3.2%
Caulfield South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Brighton East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Caulfield South 54.6% houses
Caulfield South — Houses: 54.6% Caulfield South — Townhouses: 31.5% Caulfield South — Flats / Apartments: 13.9%
Brighton East 67.9% houses
Brighton East — Houses: 67.9% Brighton East — Townhouses: 23.8% Brighton East — Flats / Apartments: 8.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Caulfield South Brighton East
Median house price $1,750,000 $2,122,500
Median unit price $676,000 $955,000
Median land price — $2,500,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 72 sales
 24 days
from 148 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 South Brighton East
2 bed $615K / $850K
Caulfield South — 2 bed: $615K (36 sales) Brighton East — 2 bed: $850K (23 sales)

36 vs 23 sales

3 bed $1.15M / $1.2M
Caulfield South — 3 bed: $1.15M (17 sales) Brighton East — 3 bed: $1.2M (16 sales)

17 vs 16 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 South Brighton East
2 bed $1.25M / $1.43M
Caulfield South — 2 bed: $1.25M (19 sales) Brighton East — 2 bed: $1.43M (13 sales)

19 vs 13 sales

3 bed $1.68M / $1.72M
Caulfield South — 3 bed: $1.68M (59 sales) Brighton East — 3 bed: $1.72M (73 sales)

59 vs 73 sales

4 bed $2.13M / $2.3M
Caulfield South — 4 bed: $2.13M (52 sales) Brighton East — 4 bed: $2.3M (92 sales)

52 vs 92 sales

5 bed $2.04M / $2.9M
Caulfield South — 5 bed: $2.04M (13 sales) Brighton East — 5 bed: $2.9M (26 sales)

13 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

Caulfield South Brighton East
Residential 86% 76%
Parks and recreation 4% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 9%
Commercial 3% 2%
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 South Brighton East
New dwellings approved 617
across Glen Eira
 473
across Bayside (Vic.)
Approvals change year on year -69% -47%

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 South Brighton East
Houses 3.4%
$1,150/wk on $1.74M
 3.1%
$1,100/wk on $1.84M
Units 5.0%
$685/wk on $718K
 3.6%
$555/wk on $808K

Ranking within VIC

Caulfield South Brighton East
House price Higher than 95% of VIC
same for both
Income Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Schools Higher than 48% of VIC Higher than 1% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 8% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 18% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 2% of VIC

Liveability

Caulfield South scores higher overall (78 vs 70).

Caulfield South Brighton East
Grade A
same for both
Score 78/100 70/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Caulfield South Brighton East
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
47/100
 Moderate
46/100
Flood Moderate
44/100
 Low
35/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Caulfield South Brighton East
Inside the suburb 5 7
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 4
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Monash Caulfield, 2.1 km
 2
Monash Caulfield, 4.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.5% 3.9%

Schools in Caulfield South

  • Caulfield Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Caulfield South Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Melbourne Montessori College - Caulfield South Campus Independent · Combined below peers
  • Japanese School of Melbourne Independent · Secondary
  • Mount Scopus Memorial College - Fink Karp Ivany Campus Independent · Combined

Schools in Brighton East

  • Brighton Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Gardenvale Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Finbar's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • St Leonard's College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Haileybury College - Brighton Boys Independent · Combined
  • Haileybury College - Brighton Girls Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Caulfield South Brighton East
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 11 6
Parks & reserves 2 9
Childcare 10 13
GPs 2
same for both
Pharmacies 0 3
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 1 2
EV chargers 0 2

Mobility

Caulfield South Brighton East
Walkability score 83/100 80/100
Distance to Melbourne 14 km 14.2 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 26 min 24 min
Public transport score 81/100
Tram · Bus
 80/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 207.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 181.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.1%
postcode 3162
 2.9%
postcode 3187
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 18
postcode 3162
 24
postcode 3187

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 South Brighton East
Worked from Home 47.1% / 50.1%
Caulfield South — Worked from Home: 47.1% Brighton East — Worked from Home: 50.1%
Car (driver) 43.4% / 42.1%
Caulfield South — Car (driver): 43.4% Brighton East — Car (driver): 42.1%
Train 3.4% / 2.3%
Caulfield South — Train: 3.4% Brighton East — Train: 2.3%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 2.7%
Caulfield South — Car (passenger): 2.3% Brighton East — Car (passenger): 2.7%
Walked Only 1.5% / 1.5%
Caulfield South — Walked Only: 1.5% Brighton East — Walked Only: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.1%).

Setting

Caulfield South Brighton East
Elevation 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.4 km
3.8 km to a named beach
 2.6 km
2.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Caulfield South Brighton East
Connectivity score 76/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 4%
5,633 premises
 5%
7,493 premises

Climate

Caulfield South Brighton East
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 South Brighton East
PM2.5 7.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Caulfield South Brighton East
Average residential rate $1,577/yr $2,086/yr
Council Glen Eira Bayside (Vic.)

Federal electorate

Caulfield South Brighton East
Division Goldstein
same for both
Member Tim Wilson
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Caulfield South Brighton East
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Caulfield South

Middle-Ring Premium Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

Brighton East

Coastal Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Caulfield South

Caulfield South vs Elsternwick Caulfield South vs Ormond Caulfield South vs Caulfield Caulfield South vs Glen Huntly Caulfield South vs Gardenvale

Other comparisons with Brighton East

Brighton East vs Brighton Brighton East vs Bentleigh Brighton East vs Hampton Brighton East vs Ormond Brighton East vs McKinnon Brighton East vs Moorabbin
Full data on Caulfield South Full data on Brighton East
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or