Census-designated place · Virginia
McLean, Virginia
McLean, census-designated place, in Fairfax County, Virginia. McLean had 49,627 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,811). GEOID 5148376.
Residents, 2020-2024
49,627
±1,811 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 50,773
Median household income
$250,000 or more
The survey's top or bottom value; no margin is published
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$1,412,700
±$49,412 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$3,422
±$246 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is McLean and what county is it in?
McLean is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Fairfax County, Virginia. It covers 24.8 square miles of land, 2,048 residents per square mile in 2020.
McLean is in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 23 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in McLean, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts McLean's population at 49,627 (±1,811). The 2020 Census counted 50,773 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; McLean is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | McLean | Fairfax County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 49,627 ±1,811 | 1,147,837 | no clear change |
| Households | 17,147 ±486 | 414,101 | +738 |
| Average household size | 2.88 ±0.06 | 2.75 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 17,833 ±497 | 430,047 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in McLean?
The median resident of McLean is 46.6 years old; 25.4% are under 18 and 20.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 65.2%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 20.8%. 25.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | McLean | Fairfax County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 ±0.8 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 25.4% ±1.2 pts | 22.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.2% ±1.2 pts | 15.0% | – |
| Male | 48.3% ±1.2 pts | 49.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.3% ±1.7 pts | 17.6% | +2.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 65.2% ±2.2 pts | 46.8% | −5.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±0.7 pts | 9.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 20.8% ±2.0 pts | 19.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.5% ±1.0 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 25.0% ±1.9 pts | 30.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 28.5% ±2.4 pts | 39.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.2% ±1.1 pts | 7.5% | – |
| With a disability | 7.9% ±0.9 pts | 8.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.6% ±0.5 pts | 7.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.0% ±0.8 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 84.3% ±1.8 pts | 65.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 56.5% ±2.4 pts | 33.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.7% ±1.7 pts | 87.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.9% ±0.7 pts | 3.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in McLean earn?
Half of McLean's 17,147 households earn less than $250,000 or more a year (), against $153,637 in Fairfax County and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $250,000 or more in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 2.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | McLean | Fairfax County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $250,000 or more | $153,637 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $379,689 ±$20,285 | $195,941 | – |
| Per capita income | $131,068 ±$7,009 | $71,828 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 2.9% ±0.6 pts | 5.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 1.4% ±0.7 pts | 7.2% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 0.8% ±0.4 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.6% ±1.0 pts | 98.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.1% ±1.1 pts | 96.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in McLean?
Owners occupy 86.1% of McLean's occupied homes and renters 13.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,412,700 by its owner (±$49,412). The median renter pays $3,422 a month including utilities, and 41.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | McLean | Fairfax County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $1,412,700 ±$49,412 | $732,800 | +$143,608 |
| Median gross rent | $3,422 ±$246 | $2,276 | −$350 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.0% ±7.8 pts | 36.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $4,000 or more | $3,227 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 86.1% ±1.6 pts | 68.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 13.9% ±1.6 pts | 31.4% | – |
| Housing units | 17,833 ±497 | 430,047 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.5% ±4.8 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 80.5% ±2.1 pts | 45.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.7% ±0.7 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 10.9% ±1.5 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.9% ±0.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.3% ±1.2 pts | 4.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in McLean work and get to work?
51.3% of McLean's workers drive alone and 38.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.3%.
| Measure | McLean | Fairfax County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.6% ±1.6 pts | 70.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.3% ±0.6 pts | 4.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 51.3% ±2.7 pts | 55.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.1% ±1.0 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 3.4% ±1.3 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Walked | 1.0% ±0.5 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 38.3% ±2.9 pts | 28.7% | +27.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.1 min ±1.3 | 28.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in McLean?
13 census tracts lie mostly in McLean, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $177,250 (Tract 4710) to $250,000 or more (Tract 4803.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4709Fairfax County | 7,652 | $243,278 |
| Tract 4705Fairfax County | 5,444 | $213,309 |
| Tract 4707Fairfax County | 5,302 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 4704Fairfax County | 5,136 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 4802.01Fairfax County | 4,520 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 4803.02Fairfax County | 4,508 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 4708Fairfax County | 3,386 | $203,792 |
| Tract 4703Fairfax County | 3,293 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 4706Fairfax County | 3,041 | $231,458 |
| Tract 4701Fairfax County | 2,641 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 4803.01Fairfax County | 2,984 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 4712.03Fairfax County | 2,759 | $146,667 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in McLean) · Census block assignment files
How does McLean compare with other places in Virginia?
McLean ranks 1st of 365 places in Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 17th | 374 |
| Residents per square mile | 141st | 374 |
| Median household income | 1st | 365 |
| Per capita income | 2nd | 374 |
| Median home value | 1st | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 8th | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 245th | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8th | 359 |
| Median age | 55th | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 68th | 368 |
| Work from home | 18th | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 144th | 372 |
McLean's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare McLean with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for McLean?
5 of the 57 figures for McLean on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for McLean are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.