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Cabin John vs McLean

Next-door neighbors, in two states. The biggest differences: size (22.8× in McLean) and trails (9× in McLean).

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Cabin John, MDHomes around $1.26MMaryland · 2,179 people
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McLean, VAHomes around $1.46MVirginia · 49,627 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

Cabin JohnHomes around $1.26M
Housing$1.26M typical home194% above the MD typical home HealthHealthier than 100%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Outdoors31.8% conserved land4.8 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves All about Cabin John →
McLeanHomes around $1.46M
Housing$1.46M typical home252% above the VA typical home Schools#11 for schools in VAof 219 towns Outdoors#30 most conserved land in VA43 miles of trails across 42 parks and preserves All about McLean →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Size22.8×
McLean is the bigger place
McLean 49,627Cabin John 2,179
Trails9×
McLean has more miles of trail
McLean 43.2 miCabin John 4.8 mi
Conserved land+17 pts
Cabin John has more conserved land
Cabin John 31.8%McLean 14.8%
Kids under 18+8.1 pts
McLean has more kids
McLean 25.4%Cabin John 17.3%
Median age6.7 yrs
Cabin John skews older
Cabin John 53.3McLean 46.6
Homeowners+9 pts renters
McLean has more renters
Cabin John 95.1%McLean 86.1%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,110 more a month in McLean

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Cabin John$7,410/mo
Typical home $1.26M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.76%+ · or rent about $3,501/mo · Housing →
McLean$8,520/mo
Typical home $1.46M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.71%+ · or rent about $3,422/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,110 a month, about $13,300 a year, between McLean and Cabin John.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value; “+” means the Census top-codes that town’s bill at $10,000, so its real rate is higher.

Where they are

Cabin John and McLean share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Cabin JohnMcLeanCabin JohnMcLean
Cabin John ↔ McLean2.6 miles apart · They share a border
Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every state ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
–Cabin JohnNot graded B+McLeanBetter than 65% of districts in the state
Health
A+Cabin JohnHealthier than 99% of U.S. towns A+McLeanHealthier than 98% of U.S. towns
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
Cabin JohnMcLean
Snow a year6″6″
January low26°F26°F
July high88°F88°F
Growing season (days)202d202d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)9th18th
Outdoors & history
Cabin JohnMcLean
Trails5 mi43 mi
Conserved land31.8%14.8%
Settled—1910
National Register places17
Archive photos1221
Famous people born here114
Community
Cabin JohnMcLean
Library hours a week—54 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined01

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Cabin JohnMcLean
People
Population 2,179Lowest 49,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age 53.3±5.2Highest 37% above U.S. 46.6±0.8Lowest 20% above U.S.
Kids under 18 17.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% 25.4%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+ 27.4%±7.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% 20.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Cabin John and McLean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 87.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% 5.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $250,001 210% above U.S. $250,001 210% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $1,312,900±$171kLowest 295% above U.S. $1,412,700±$49kHighest 325% above U.S.
McLean and Cabin John are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $3,501Highest 148% above U.S. $3,422±$246Lowest 142% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±65.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% 48.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
McLean and Cabin John are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% 2.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% 86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. 1977 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. 28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home 35.5%±13.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% 38.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
McLean and Cabin John are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.5%Lowest 5.9%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.3 miHighest 8.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.52Lowest 0.79Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Washington (31%)Washington (21%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in McLeanFew work in Cabin John
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 31.8%Highest 14.8%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 4.8 miLowest 43.2 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 3.0 miHighest 1.7 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 8Lowest 42Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 47.9Lowest 62.7Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#11 of 219 in VA
School district —Fairfax County Public Schools · Falls Church City Public Schools
High school in town —McLean High
Students per teacherat that high school — 13.5
U.S. average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Cabin John neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Cabin John’s Town Square.

McLean neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 1w

Favorite Outdoor Spots in McLean

1 neighbor in McLean can answer.

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Bordering Cabin John

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Potomac45,902 people · $1.16M homes
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Glen Echo276 people · $1.16M homes
B
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Brookmont3,671 people · $1.36M homes
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Bethesda69,397 people · $1.17M homes

Towns like Cabin John

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Chevy Chase Village1,903 people · $2M homes
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Chevy Chase2,906 people · $1.67M homes
G
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Garrett Park932 people · $1.01M homes
S
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Somerset1,088 people · $1.78M homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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