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McLean vs Cabin John

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

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McLean, VAHomes around $1.46MVirginia · 49,627 people
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Cabin John, MDHomes around $1.26MMaryland · 2,179 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.

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 →
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 →
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.

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

McLean and Cabin John share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

McLeanCabin JohnMcLeanCabin John
McLean ↔ Cabin John2.6 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
B+McLeanBetter than 65% of districts in the state –Cabin JohnNot graded
Health
A+McLeanHealthier than 98% of U.S. towns A+Cabin JohnHealthier than 99% 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
McLeanCabin John
Snow a year6″6″
January low26°F26°F
July high88°F88°F
Growing season (days)202d202d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)18th9th
Outdoors & history
McLeanCabin John
Trails43 mi5 mi
Conserved land14.8%31.8%
Settled1910—
National Register places71
Archive photos2112
Famous people born here141
Community
McLeanCabin John
Library hours a week54 hrs—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined10

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.

McLeanCabin John
People
Population 49,627Highest 2,179Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% +7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age 46.6±0.8Lowest 20% above U.S. 53.3±5.2Highest 37% above U.S.
Kids under 18 25.4%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% 17.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+ 20.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% 27.4%±7.5Highest 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+ 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% 87.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% 1.4%±1.3Lowest 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 $1,412,700±$49kHighest 325% above U.S. $1,312,900±$171kLowest 295% 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 $3,422±$246Lowest 142% above U.S. $3,501Highest 148% 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 48.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% 0%±65.1Lowest 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 2.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% 0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% 95.1%Highest 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 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. 31 minHighest 19% above U.S.
Work from home 38.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% 35.5%±13.4Lowest 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 5.9%Highest 1.5%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 8.8 miLowest 9.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.79Highest 0.52Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Washington (21%)Washington (31%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Cabin JohnFew work in McLean
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 14.8%Lowest 31.8%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 43.2 miHighest 4.8 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.7 miLowest 3.0 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 42Highest 8Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 62.7Highest 47.9Lowest
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.

McLean neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 1w

Favorite Outdoor Spots in McLean

1 neighbor in McLean can answer.

Cabin John neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Cabin John’s Town Square.

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Bordering McLean

G
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Great Falls15,228 people · $1.41M homes
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Potomac, MD45,902 people · $1.16M homes
B
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Brookmont, MD3,671 people · $1.36M homes
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Wolf Trap15,858 people · $1.2M homes

Towns like McLean

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Fairfax25,026 people · $723K homes
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Leesburg49,171 people · $668K homes
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Herndon24,672 people · $599K homes
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Charlottesville45,437 people · $487K 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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