The Washington suburbs boast one of the most robust housing markets on the East Coast. McLean, Virginia is located in Fairfax County, which ranks just behind nearby Loudon County to come in as the second-wealthiest county in the nation. McLean offers easy access to the amenities of the nation’s capital: it’s about a 25-minute drive (except during rush-hour) from DC via the George Washington Memorial Parkway, or a 50-minute Metro ride. The DC-Metro area is renowned for its high standards of living, but when it comes to McLean, VA real estate, the area’s many perks don’t come cheap: the median list price for a single-family home in McLean is $890,000, and renters pay a median $3,600 per month. However, McLean’s 48,000 residents find the cost of living to be a worthwhile investment.
Source:en.wikipedia.org
McLean has a colorful and aristocratic background. The Salona homestead site played a key role in American history more than once. Former Virginia Governor, Revolutionary War hero, and father of General Robert E. Lee, Henry Lee owned the property at the dawn of the 19th century. During the War of 1812, British forces marched on Washington, DC to set fire to the White House. First Lady Dolley Madison famously saved a portrait of George Washington as she fled to safety at Salona. During the Civil War, the Salona estate served for several months as Union headquarters for General William Smith. The property is now a recreational site under the governance of Fairfax County, and the manor itself is in the process of being restored.
In 1906, newspaper mogul John Roll McLean, who had previously owned the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Washington Post, was instrumental in turning the area into the vibrant suburb it is today. McLean partnered with Stephen Benton Elkins and Jean-Pierre Guenard to build an electric railway linking the community with Washington, DC. Four years later, two small communities merged and became the suburb known as McLean.
Source:en.wikipedia.org
McLean is the hub of the federal intelligence community, home to CIA headquarters and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Several Fortune 500 companies operate in McLean, including the financial service companies Capital One and Freddie Mac, government contractors Booz Allen and Exelis, and Hilton Hotels. Other large employers include the Mars food company, USA Today, and MicroStrategy.
McLean’s unemployment rate of 2.6 percent is less than half the national average of six percent. At 2.4 percent, the poverty level in McLean is a staggering 88 percent below the national average. Recent job growth in McLean of about 2.3 percent is higher than the US average growth of 1.9 percent. Despite the recession, employment in the Washington area has increased every year for the last two decades, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
McLean is ideal for families. The crime rate is about 65 percent lower than the national average, and violent crimes make up only about 10 percent of the overall crime statistics. McLean students are zoned to Fairfax County Schools, which are excellent. The school rating website Great Schools gives both McLean’s high schools stellar scores, with Langley High School receiving a nine out of 10 and McLean High School garnering an eight out of 10.
There’s also plenty of family fun to be had in the McLean area. Claude Moore Colonial Farm offers the chance for kids to get an up-close look at Virginia life circa 1771. Clemyjontri Park is a wildly popular playground destination for families. Its carousel and maze set it apart from any other park, and it accommodates kids of all abilities, with features like wheelchair accessible swings. Be warned, it can get very crowded on weekends. Ocean Dunes Waterpark is six miles away, and the Reston Zoo is a nine-mile drive. You can be at the National Zoo or the Smithsonian museums in DC in about 20 minutes.
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Despite being in the suburbs, McLean offers plenty of opportunities for its residents to embrace the great outdoors. Great Falls National Park offers a stunning view of the Potomac River as it tumbles through Mather Gorge. There are 15 miles of hiking trails, five of which are open to bicycle use. The park also offers adventures for climbers and whitewater enthusiasts. There are several other parks in McLean, like McLean Central Park and Lewinsville Park, offering varied running and walking routes, fields for pickup soccer games, and tennis courts. For an indoor workout, general and specialty gyms like Breakaway Fitness and LA Boxing have dozens of ways to help you meet your fitness goals.
Health food nuts will find no shortage of opportunities to indulge their passion. In addition to Whole Foods Market locations throughout the area, there are several smaller, local health grocery stores. Salud Healthy Pantry in Great Falls carries local, organic, and vegan fare. Yes! Natural Food Supermarket is a regional chain with locations throughout the DC area. The McLean Farmer’s Market is open on Fridays in May through November.
