2025 Compare Cities Overview:
McLean, VA vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Barbara older or younger than people in McLean?
- The Median Age in Santa Barbara is 7.3 years younger than in McLean.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Barbara or McLean?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 28.6% more expensive than McLean housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Barbara or McLean?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Barbara is 13.0 minutes shorter 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 Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara, California has something for everyone - from fantastic beaches to world-class shopping and dining experiences. Visitors can explore Old Mission Santa Barbara or take part in various water activities around Stearns Wharf.

 McLean, VASanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock89,132329,725,481
 Median Income$242,610  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,186,400  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.1%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 Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

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Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

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If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

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