The Town FilesMcLean, Virginia
Community in Fairfax County · population 50,773 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,412,700
- Household income
- $250,001
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 46.6
McLean is a community of 50,773 people in Fairfax County, Virginia. The median home is worth $1,412,700, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more upscale than 99% of Virginia towns, better for families than 89% of Virginia towns, better for cycling than 84% of Virginia towns.
How McLean ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in McLean is worth $1,412,700, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 5.7 times the median household income of $250,001, which is more affordable than 7% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $3,422 a month. 86.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | McLean | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,412,700 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $3,422 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $250,001 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.1% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in McLean
| People | McLean | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.2% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 84.3% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.9% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 25.0% | — |
| Work from home | 38.3% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.1% | 91.8% |
Weather in McLean
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.8 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McLean since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 5, 1979 about 1.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 45 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 114 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 11, 2004.
Severe weather in Fairfax County since 1996
Fairfax County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| March 7, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4262: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Fairfax County
Fairfax County had 636,430 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $114,100 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in McLean itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in McLean
8 public schools with 9,094 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| McLean High | 9-12 | 2,444 | 13.7 |
| Langley High | 9-12 | 2,136 | 17.7 |
| Cooper Middle | 7-8 | 1,071 | 15.3 |
| Kent Gardens Elementary | PK-6 | 1,006 | 16.5 |
| Spring Hill Elementary | PK-6 | 948 | 18.6 |
| Churchill Road Elementary | PK-6 | 600 | 15.8 |
| Chesterbrook Elementary | PK-6 | 537 | 14.9 |
| Sherman Elementary | PK-6 | 352 | 14.1 |
Towns near McLean
- Pimmit Hills, VA2.3 mi · 6,569 people · home $966,500
- Tysons, VA2.4 mi · 26,374 people · home $640,000
- Brookmont, MD3.5 mi · 3,751 people · home $1,361,100
- Idylwood, VA3.8 mi · 17,954 people · home $756,900
- Dunn Loring, VA3.9 mi · 9,464 people · home $951,400
- Falls Church, VA4.2 mi · 14,658 people · home $1,055,600
- Vienna, VA4.7 mi · 16,473 people · home $1,008,800
- Potomac, MD4.8 mi · 47,018 people · home $1,157,000
McLean questions
Is McLean, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McLean scores better for retirees than 75% of Virginia towns and quieter than 31%. 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.6).
How much does a house cost in McLean?
The median owner-occupied home in McLean is valued at $1,412,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $250,001, so homes cost about 5.7 times income. Median rent is $3,422 a month.
What is the weather like in McLean?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 5.8 inches of snow.
Does McLean get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McLean since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 5, 1979. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)