Named for John Roll McLean, the former publisher and owner of The Washington Post, McLean, Virginia, is home to about 51,000 residents on the banks of the Potomac River. In this Fairfax County community, large homes sit on sprawling lots. Because of its location along the Capitol Beltway, less than 10 miles from Washington, D.C., McLean is home to government officials, military personnel, CEOs and diplomats. The commuter-friendly suburb is also near the Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the Tysons area, which has a Silver Line Metro station. Aside from lavish homes and proximity to employers, McLean has an involved community. “There’s a lot of pride in living here,” says Sharon Hayman, Realtor and vice president of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, who has been selling homes throughout Northern Virginia for nearly 30 years. “People know each other; their kids have grown up here, and many of them stick around.”
Gorgeous homes with well maintained landscaping are a common sight in McLean.
Idylwood offers stunning homes with spacious yards.
McLean's metro station makes it easy for commuters to get to the Washington DC.
Great Falls Park is a big attraction for Greenway Heights residents and nature enthusiasts.
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Potomac parks and community outreach
Residents can enjoy many outdoor spaces in McLean. Along the Potomac, Scott’s Run Nature Preserve spans nearly 340 acres. This scenic riverside park has waterfalls over rocky brooks, natural trails in the shade of tall oaks, hemlock groves and wildflowers along the forest floor. Turkey Run Park also follows the water, with hiking trails through dense forests, while nearby Clemyjontri Park is entirely wheelchair accessible. All children can enjoy the swings with high backs, use the lowered monkey bars, scale the play equipment with rubber surfaces, ride on the carousel and train or navigate the brightly-colored maze. Wooded walking trails lead through McLean Central Park, which also has a disc golf course, tennis courts and a gazebo that accommodates summer concerts.
The Dolley Madison Library, the Alden Theatre and the McLean Community Center are beside McLean Central Park. The Alden Theatre puts on many performances throughout the year, from high school productions to traveling Broadway shows, while the McLean Community Center hosts various annual events, like McLean Day, the area’s largest annual festival on a weekend in the spring. Rides light up and spin, food trucks serve local bites and live performers take the stage. A weekly event, the McLean Farmer’s Market is held on Friday mornings between May and November. Locals can browse vendors selling everything from pastries and produce to coffee beans and cheese.
Kids love playing games like tag at Clemyjontri Park in McLean.
The Dolley Madison Library in McLean is a haven for book lovers.
Live musicians pamper those shopping at McLean's farmers markets.
Greenway Heights residents enjoy the grills and picnic tables at Great Falls Park.
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Some of Northern Virginia's most expensive homes
McLean’s median single-family home price is about $2.4 million, significantly higher than the national median of around $430,000. “There’s a wide variety of housing available and the value of the land is high,” says Realtor Christine Richardson with Weichert Realtors, who has sold houses throughout Northern Virginia for over three decades. “Sometimes, buyers tear down older homes to build something new.” McLean’s housing options range from multi-million-dollar estates to more modest townhomes; however, the luxury market dominates, attracting diplomats and executives. “No matter where or what you buy in McLean, you know it will be a good investment,” Richardson says. “People are always going to need to live in this area. It’s a safe bet, and properties appreciate.”
McLean boasts amazing gated properties surrounded by trees for those looking for privacy.
Home seekers will fall in love with the architectural styles found in Greenway Heights.
Fall in love with the variety of architecture McLean has to offer.
Find your perfect home in Greenway Heights with diverse home styles and designs.
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Homegrown McLean Family Restaurant and nearby employers in Tysons
In McLean’s core, around Chain Bridge Road and Old Dominion Drive, there are fast food chains and sit-down restaurants, grocery stores, and services like nail salons and barber shops. McLean Family Restaurant is in this area and has been run by the Kapetanakis family since 1969. “It’s an anchor of the community,” Richardson says. “Everyone knows it; everyone has been there for breakfast.” Tysons Corner, a megamall with hundreds of retailers, upscale restaurants and a movie theater, is about 4 miles from the center of McLean.
The CIA is headquartered in McLean’s Langley neighborhood, and in the Tysons area, many are employed at the headquarters of several Fortune 500 companies, including Booz Allen Hamilton, Hilton and Capitol One. Capitol One Center has become a public destination: Visitors can hang out at The Perch, a rooftop green space with an amphitheater, beer garden, dog park and minigolf course, while Capitol One Hall hosts live performances. The recently built Capitol One Park meets NCAA standards, hosting college and summer ball teams. For medical services, the Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, a leading regional healthcare provider, is about 10 miles from McLean.
McLean Family Restaurant offers a friendly atmosphere and good food for McLean guests.
McLean is home to a variety of Fortune 500 companies like Capital One.
The Tysons Mall in McLean offers a plethora of entertainment options including an AMC theater.
Inova Fairfax Hospital provides top healthcare services near Mantua.
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Fairfax County Public Schools earn an A
Fairfax County Public Schools, the largest school system in Virginia and the 11th largest in the country, serves McLean. The district receives an A from Niche and educates nearly 183,000 students. McLean also hosts prestigious private schools, like the Potomac School, which serves kindergarten to 12th-grade students; the Langley School, which educates prekindergarten to eighth graders; and the Maderia School, an all-girls boarding school.
The Potomac School is a private, K-12 school in the McLean neighborhood.
Langley High School serves grades 9-12 to teenagers located in McLean.
The Langley School is a private school for preschool through 8th grade in McLean.
McLean High School is one of several quality education centers in McLean.
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8 miles to Washington, D.C., plus Silver Metro stops
McLean is a well-connected suburb with access to city centers and transportation hubs. About 8 miles from D.C., McLean has easy access to George Washington Parkway and U.S. Interstate 495, commonly called the Capitol Beltway. To avoid traffic around the nation’s capital, residents can use the McLean and Tysons Corner Metro stations on the Silver Line, which provide direct connections to downtown D.C., Arlington and Reston. For air travel, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is about 14 miles away, while Washington Dulles International Airport is about 20 miles away. The area is also well-served by bus routes and bike paths.
Crime in Fairfax County
Fairfax County has crime rates significantly lower than national averages. According to local police departments, the violent crime rate in 2022 was 76 incidents per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to the national average of about 379 per 100,000 inhabitants. Property crime rates stood at 834 incidents per 100,000 inhabitants, lower than the national average of about 1,958 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Christine grew up in a military family and moved every year until her dad got stationed at the Pentagon when she was 13 years old. She has been in Northern Virginia ever since and loves it. She went to high school in Alexandria at St. Mary's Academy and has a degree in Math/Computer Science from the College of William and Mary. She is married with two wonderful grown children and has a delightful ball of fluff dog named Mistletoe. When Christine is not selling real estate, she enjoys bike riding, hiking, sewing, and scrapbooking.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
