© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
McLean.
The Census tops out at $250,000+ for household income; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
McLean is an unincorporated community in Fairfax County, VA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in McLean
If you're considering McLean, understand upfront that you're looking at one of the most expensive housing markets in the region—median home values hover near $1.3 million and median rent exceeds $3,300 monthly. The cost of living overall runs about 42% above the national average, so this is genuinely wealthy-area pricing. About 85% of residents hold college degrees, and the workforce skews heavily toward management, business, science, and public administration roles.
McLean at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
46.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
2.9%
Foreign-Born
25.0%
Broadband Internet
96.1%
of households
Population Growth
+5.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics25.0% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in McLean: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In McLean, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (20.4%), and 7.1% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
25.4%
of residents
65 and Older
20.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
40.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
17.8%
of households
Married Couples
72.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.88
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 117% above VA average
Rent, home values, and income in McLean
In McLean, rent runs 117% above the VA average, and home values are 268% above the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
86.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,451,379 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in McLean and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Fairfax County, which includes McLean, is close to the VA average.
Unemployment rate
McLean: Fairfax County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Fairfax County (county-wide) · Annual averages
McLean is about 4% of Fairfax County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What McLean Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area
Commute28.1 min avg
How McLean residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In McLean, most residents drive alone to work (51%), and 52% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Major hub12.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 67% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Fairfax County Police Department, which covers McLean, runs 67% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
109.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,437.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Fairfax County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 29 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Fairfax County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Fairfax County, which includes McLean, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 29 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,000 |
| 2023 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.9M |
| 2022 | 38 | Thunderstorm Wind | $442,500 |
| 2021 | 56 | Thunderstorm Wind | $613,500 |
| 2020 | 56 | Thunderstorm Wind | $307,000 |
| 2019 | 55 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 53 | Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Fairfax County, county-wide
McLean is about 4% of Fairfax County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Fairfax County, which includes McLean, is typically good — 284 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
284
per year
Moderate Days
80
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Fairfax County, county-wide
McLean is about 4% of Fairfax County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate86°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
McLean has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.2"
Annual Snowfall
5.8"
Hot Days/Year
44
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
95
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 26°F | 3.32" |
| Feb | 46°F | 27°F | 3.24" |
| Mar | 55°F | 34°F | 4.15" |
| Apr | 68°F | 44°F | 3.53" |
| May | 76°F | 54°F | 4.44" |
| Jun | 84°F | 63°F | 4.24" |
| Jul | 88°F | 68°F | 5.11" |
| Aug | 86°F | 66°F | 4.42" |
| Sep | 79°F | 59°F | 4.54" |
| Oct | 68°F | 47°F | 4.40" |
| Nov | 56°F | 36°F | 3.32" |
| Dec | 47°F | 30°F | 3.81" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in McLean
Uninsured
1.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside McLean's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Sibley Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Washington
Virginia Hospital Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4 mi away · Arlington
Dominion Hospital
Psychiatric · 4.6 mi away · Falls Church
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in McLean
McLean's student/teacher ratio is 15.6:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 84.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
84.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near McLean (within 15 miles)
Northern Virginia Community College
7.7 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 33,048 students · in-state tuition $6,062 · 30% graduate · median earnings $56,892 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Maryland-College Park
13.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 30,760 students · in-state tuition $12,290 · 86% graduate · median earnings $89,228 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 13,773 students · in-state tuition $5,394 · 23% graduate · median earnings $55,378 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 11,182 students · in-state tuition $70,170 · 86% graduate · median earnings $96,691 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,108 students · in-state tuition $38,936 · 69% graduate · median earnings $69,682 (10 yrs after entry)
Strayer University-Global Region
8 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 9,376 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 14% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: George Washington Memorial Parkway, 2 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for McLean
McLean has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being George Washington Memorial Parkway (2 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
George Washington Memorial Parkway
Memorial Parkway
2 mi awayClara Barton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
3 mi awayGlen Echo Park
Park
3 mi awayGreat Falls Park
Park
5 mi awayWolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
National Park Site
5 mi awayChesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
National Historical Park
6 mi awayArlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
National Park Site
7 mi awayRock Creek Park
Park
7 mi awayPublic Libraries in McLean
Dolley Madison Community Library
1244 Oak Ridge Ave., Mclean
Cities Near McLean
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to McLean?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
McLean FAQ
Is McLean, Virginia affordable?⌄
McLean's median rent is $3,422/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $250,000+/year. Median home value is $1,412,700.
Is McLean, Virginia safe?⌄
McLean is policed by the Fairfax County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 110 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1438 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in McLean, Virginia?⌄
Fairfax County, which includes McLean, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in McLean, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in McLean is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $3,422/month and median household income is $250,000+/year. The median home value is $1,412,700. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in McLean, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in McLean is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from