2025 Compare Cities Overview:
McLean, VA vs Fairfax, VA

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Highlights
Are people in Fairfax older or younger than people in McLean?
- The Median Age in Fairfax is 8.7 years younger than in McLean.

Are housing costs cheaper in Fairfax or McLean?
- Fairfax housing costs are 44.9% less expensive than McLean housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Fairfax or McLean?
- The average commute for residents of Fairfax is 1.0 minutes longer than it is for residents of McLean.

Things to do in McLean?
McLean, VA is an affluent suburb located northwest of Washington D.C., but within Fairfax County's borders. This town of nearly 52,000 people hosts numerous shopping areas like Tyson Galleria and Tysons Corner Center as well as high quality public education options with several distinguished schools in the area.

Things to do in Fairfax?
Fairfax is an incorporated city sitting within Fairfax County, Virginia featuring plenty of things to do during your stay like attending concerts at the historic Sunnyside Botanical Garden suitable for those looking to enjoy some family friendly fun plus nearby Sully Historic Site has stunning views ideal for outdoor activities. Additionally there are several locally owned stores and eateries providing unique items or delicious cuisine great for any budget during their stay here!

 McLean, VAFairfax, VAUnited States
 Population  Unlock23,980329,725,481
 Median Income$242,610  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock37.738.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,186,400  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.3%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time30.16  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Mclean    7 Reviews

Over 12 years ago

McLean has superb QOL - inside the Beltway, rural feeling, easy commute to DC via nat'l parkway, influential  More

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Over 17 years ago

There are definitely four seasons here; but, the winters tend to be short and the summers  More

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Over 18 years ago

Very expensive housing here. We could never afford to buy  More

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Reviews for Fairfax    28 Reviews

I lived in the area for 17 years through high school until I eventually became a truck driver. Having now seen most states extensively, I wanted to fairly review what  More

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Living in Fairfax, or any of the Northern Virginia suburbs of DC, means dealing with highways that are a Gordian knot of converging lanes and overpasses, making long  More

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Over 10 years ago

The Cost of living here is high. Though the standard of living is also high, unless you're making over 50,000/year, it's difficult to both live and build any sort of  More

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