Caulfield South vs Elsternwick

Elsternwick is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 41 in Caulfield South. In both, most households own their home. In Caulfield South, about half of households are couple families. In Elsternwick, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Elsternwick: a median of $2 million, against $1.75 million in Caulfield South, though rent is higher in Caulfield South. Elsternwick is closer to the city centre: 10.7 km, against 14 km. On these figures, Caulfield South tends to suit couples, while Elsternwick suits 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

Caulfield South

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (47/100 vs 69/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (55% vs 38%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (62% vs 47%)
  • But Elsternwick 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

Caulfield South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,750,000 vs $2,000,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Elsternwick

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (40% vs 26%)
  • has cheaper rent ($441/wk vs $496/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Elsternwick

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (10.7 km vs 14 km)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 83/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Elsternwick

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (62% vs 45%)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 83/100)
  • But Caulfield South carries lower crime risk (47/100 vs 69/100)

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 houses (3.4% vs 2.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Caulfield South 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 South 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 South Elsternwick
Walkability 83 / 92
Caulfield South — Walkability: 83/100 Elsternwick — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 53 / 31
Caulfield South — Safety: 53/100 Elsternwick — Safety: 31/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Caulfield South — Low fire risk: 100/100 Elsternwick — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 56 / 68
Caulfield South — Low flood risk: 56/100 Elsternwick — Low flood risk: 68/100

Demographics

Caulfield South rents higher ($496/wk vs $441/wk); Caulfield South skews older (41 vs 38).

Caulfield South Elsternwick
Population 12,328
+12% vs other
 10,887
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.0% +5.2%
Median age 41 38
Median household income $122,980/yr
+7% vs other
 $114,868/yr
Median weekly rent $496/wk
+11% vs other
 $441/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Caulfield South Elsternwick
0-4 5.6% / 5.1%
Caulfield South — 0-4: 5.6% Elsternwick — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 12.6% / 11.8%
Caulfield South — 5-14: 12.6% Elsternwick — 5-14: 11.8%
15-19 5.6% / 5.5%
Caulfield South — 15-19: 5.6% Elsternwick — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 5.2% / 5.5%
Caulfield South — 20-24: 5.2% Elsternwick — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 11.7% / 17.0%
Caulfield South — 25-34: 11.7% Elsternwick — 25-34: 17.0%
35-44 14.0% / 14.1%
Caulfield South — 35-44: 14.0% Elsternwick — 35-44: 14.1%
45-54 14.0% / 13.5%
Caulfield South — 45-54: 14.0% Elsternwick — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 11.8% / 11.2%
Caulfield South — 55-64: 11.8% Elsternwick — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 11.1% / 9.1%
Caulfield South — 65-74: 11.1% Elsternwick — 65-74: 9.1%
75-84 5.5% / 4.8%
Caulfield South — 75-84: 5.5% Elsternwick — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 2.9% / 2.4%
Caulfield South — 85+: 2.9% Elsternwick — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

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%
Elsternwick 36.6% couple families
Elsternwick — Couple Families: 36.6% Elsternwick — Lone Person: 45.3% Elsternwick — One Parent Families: 10.1% Elsternwick — Group Household: 6.9% Elsternwick — Other Families: 1.2%
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%
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 South Elsternwick
Bachelor Degree 25.8% / 27.1%
Caulfield South — Bachelor Degree: 25.8% Elsternwick — Bachelor Degree: 27.1%
Postgraduate Degree 9.5% / 10.7%
Caulfield South — Postgraduate Degree: 9.5% Elsternwick — Postgraduate Degree: 10.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 7.8%
Caulfield South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Elsternwick — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Certificate III & IV 6.0% / 5.9%
Caulfield South — Certificate III & IV: 6.0% Elsternwick — Certificate III & IV: 5.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 4.4%
Caulfield South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Elsternwick — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.1%).

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 Elsternwick
South Africa 5.7% / 1.9%
Caulfield South — South Africa: 5.7% Elsternwick — South Africa: 1.9%
England 3.0% / 4.0%
Caulfield South — England: 3.0% Elsternwick — England: 4.0%
New Zealand 1.7% / 2.0%
Caulfield South — New Zealand: 1.7% Elsternwick — New Zealand: 2.0%
China 2.4% / 1.2%
Caulfield South — China: 2.4% Elsternwick — China: 1.2%
India 1.6% / 1.3%
Caulfield South — India: 1.6% Elsternwick — India: 1.3%
Ireland — / 1.4%
Caulfield South — Ireland: not among its largest Elsternwick — Ireland: 1.4%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Caulfield South 54.6% houses
Caulfield South — Houses: 54.6% Caulfield South — Flats / Apartments: 13.9% Caulfield South — Townhouses: 31.5%
Elsternwick 38.2% houses
Elsternwick — Houses: 38.2% Elsternwick — Flats / Apartments: 42.5% Elsternwick — Townhouses: 19.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Caulfield South Elsternwick
Median house price $1,750,000 $2,000,000
Median unit price $676,000 $621,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 72 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 South Elsternwick
1 bed $345K / $385K
Caulfield South — 1 bed: $345K (9 sales) Elsternwick — 1 bed: $385K (41 sales)

9 vs 41 sales

2 bed $615K / $644K
Caulfield South — 2 bed: $615K (36 sales) Elsternwick — 2 bed: $644K (100 sales)

36 vs 100 sales

3 bed $1.15M / $1.24M
Caulfield South — 3 bed: $1.15M (17 sales) Elsternwick — 3 bed: $1.24M (25 sales)

17 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 South Elsternwick
2 bed $1.25M / $1.12M
Caulfield South — 2 bed: $1.25M (19 sales) Elsternwick — 2 bed: $1.12M (6 sales)

19 vs 6 sales

3 bed $1.68M / $1.79M
Caulfield South — 3 bed: $1.68M (59 sales) Elsternwick — 3 bed: $1.79M (46 sales)

59 vs 46 sales

4 bed $2.13M / $2.4M
Caulfield South — 4 bed: $2.13M (52 sales) Elsternwick — 4 bed: $2.4M (27 sales)

52 vs 27 sales

5 bed $2.04M / $2.95M
Caulfield South — 5 bed: $2.04M (13 sales) Elsternwick — 5 bed: $2.95M (9 sales)

13 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Caulfield South Elsternwick
Residential 86% 87%
Commercial 3% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 5%
Parks and recreation 4% 1%
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 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 South Elsternwick
Houses 3.4%
$1,150/wk on $1.74M
 2.4%
$1,000/wk on $2.2M
Units 5.0%
$685/wk on $718K
 4.8%
$642/wk on $702K

Ranking within VIC

Caulfield South Elsternwick
House price Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Income Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Schools Higher than 48% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 49% of VIC

Liveability

Elsternwick is more walkable (92 vs 83); Elsternwick scores higher overall (86 vs 78).

Caulfield South Elsternwick
Grade A A+
Score 78/100 86/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Elsternwick carries more crime risk (69 vs 47); Caulfield South carries more flood risk (44 vs 32).

Caulfield South Elsternwick
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
47/100
 Moderate
69/100
Flood Moderate
44/100
 Low
32/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Caulfield South Elsternwick
Inside the suburb 5 7
Rated above peers 1 3
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Monash Caulfield, 2.1 km
 3
Monash Caulfield, 3.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.5% 3.1%

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 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 South Elsternwick
Supermarkets 2
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 11 19
Parks & reserves 2 3
Childcare 10 17
GPs 2
same for both
Pharmacies 0 5
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 4
Fuel stations 1 2

Mobility

Caulfield South sits further from the CBD (14 km vs 10.7 km).

Caulfield South Elsternwick
Walkability score 83/100 92/100
Distance to Melbourne 14 km
+24% vs other
 10.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 26 min 22 min
Public transport score 81/100
Tram · Bus
 94/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 207.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 221.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.1%
postcode 3162
 2.6%
postcode 3185
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 18
postcode 3162
 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 South Elsternwick
Worked from Home 47.1% / 51.5%
Caulfield South — Worked from Home: 47.1% Elsternwick — Worked from Home: 51.5%
Car (driver) 43.4% / 35.3%
Caulfield South — Car (driver): 43.4% Elsternwick — Car (driver): 35.3%
Train 3.4% / 5.6%
Caulfield South — Train: 3.4% Elsternwick — Train: 5.6%
Walked Only 1.5% / 3.4%
Caulfield South — Walked Only: 1.5% Elsternwick — Walked Only: 3.4%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 2.0%
Caulfield South — Car (passenger): 2.3% Elsternwick — Car (passenger): 2.0%

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

Setting

Caulfield South Elsternwick
Elevation 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.4 km
3.8 km to a named beach
 2.0 km
3.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Caulfield South Elsternwick
Connectivity score 76/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 4%
5,633 premises
 4%
5,640 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Caulfield South Elsternwick
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

Elsternwick

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Caulfield South

Caulfield South vs Brighton East Caulfield South vs Ormond Caulfield South vs Caulfield Caulfield South vs Glen Huntly Caulfield South vs Gardenvale

Other comparisons with Elsternwick

Elsternwick vs Brighton Elsternwick vs Caulfield North Elsternwick vs Elwood Elsternwick vs St Kilda East Elsternwick vs Caulfield Elsternwick vs Ripponlea
Full data on Caulfield South 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.

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