McLean

McLean, VA is an unusually wealthy, utterly breathtaking city in the Commonwealth.  Home to roughly 50,000 people, the average household income is just shy of $200,000, which is more than three times the state-wide average. Situated a short drive from Washington, D.C., Mclean is a quiet community populated by many commuting D.C. executives.

With McLean’s proximity to D.C. and stunning topography, it’s one of the most desirable cities in the United States. Finding a reasonably priced home is tough. Those wishing to live in McLean must be prepared to pay close to five times what they would pay elsewhere in Virginia. Even in the slowest of markets, McLean homes average over a $1 Million, and modest apartments rent for several thousand dollars per month.

McLean’s sheer natural beauty is one of its biggest draws, and the city is heavily invested in preserving it. As a result, the locals – and many visitors, too – enjoy an abundance of well-maintained trails and parks. The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail is among the more famous, hugging the historic Potomac River its entire length.  Isolated from civilization in such splendor, it’s hard to believe it’s still inside the Beltway.  Also in McLean is Turkey Run Park, preserved along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, which has several breathtaking waterfalls, near-virgin forest tree stands, and rugged terrain that’s nevertheless navigable with good shoes.

In McLean, crime is very low and the schools are fantastic. With plenty of tax revenue to spend on education, McLean schools are among the top in the nation. Many of McLean’s public schools outperform private and parochial schools throughout the state, making the city a great place to settle down and raise a family.

Other than the cost of living, the only other drawback to living in McLean is the commute. The biggest employers in McLean, interestingly, are not actually located in McLean – most of the jobs held by its residents are in the D.C. area. Unless working remotely or taking public transit, McLean commuters are accustomed to long, crowded drives to and from the city. It seems a small price to pay, however, for living in one of the best cities in the country.