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Compare towns

Potomac vs McLean

Next-door neighbors, in two states. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (+95% in Potomac) and home values (+22% in McLean).

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Potomac, MDHomes around $1.35MMaryland · 45,902 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.

PotomacHomes around $1.35M
Housing$1.35M typical home215% above the MD typical home Schools#5 for schools in MDof 235 towns Work27,398 jobsbased in Potomac, a regional job hub All about Potomac →
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 differ most

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

Jobs per worker+95%
Potomac is more of a job hub
Potomac 1.54McLean 0.79
Home values+22%
Homes cost more in McLean
McLean $1,412,700Potomac $1,157,000
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $460 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.

Potomac$8,060/mo
Typical home $1.35M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.86%+ · or rent about $2,887/mo · Housing →
McLean$8,520/mo
Typical home $1.46M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.71%+ · or rent about $3,422/mo · Housing →

The difference: $460 a month, about $5,500 a year, between McLean and Potomac.

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

Potomac and McLean share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

PotomacMcLeanPotomacMcLean
Potomac ↔ McLean4.8 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+PotomacBetter than 72% of districts in the state B+McLeanBetter than 65% of districts in the state
Health
A+PotomacHealthier 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
PotomacMcLean
Snow a year6″6″
January low26°F26°F
July high88°F88°F
Growing season (days)202d202d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)8th18th
Outdoors & history
PotomacMcLean
Trails53 mi43 mi
Conserved land20.2%14.8%
Settled—1910
National Register places37
Archive photos1221
Famous people born here2114
Community
PotomacMcLean
Library hours a week61 hrs54 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.

PotomacMcLean
People
Population 45,902Lowest 49,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age 47.4±1.1Highest 22% above U.S. 46.6±0.8Lowest 20% above U.S.
Potomac and McLean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 23.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22% 25.4%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22%
McLean and Potomac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 24.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% 20.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 84.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.2%±1 U.S.: 6.4% 5.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $236,675±$16kLowest 193% above U.S. $250,001Highest 210% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $1,157,000±$21kLowest 248% above U.S. $1,412,700±$49kHighest 325% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,887±$342Lowest 104% above U.S. $3,422±$246Highest 142% above U.S.
McLean and Potomac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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 46.1%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% 48.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
McLean and Potomac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 3.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 84.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% 86.1%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 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. 28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home 38.3%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% 38.3%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1%
Work in townworking residents 7.9%Highest 5.9%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 10.3 miHighest 8.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.54Highest 0.79Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Washington (18%)Washington (21%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in McLeanFew work in Potomac
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 20.2%Highest 14.8%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 52.5 miHighest 43.2 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 2.0 miHighest 1.7 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 28Lowest 42Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 52.0Lowest 62.7Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #5 of 235 in MD#11 of 219 in VA
School district Montgomery County Public SchoolsFairfax County Public Schools · Falls Church City Public Schools
High school in town Winston Churchill HighMcLean High
Students per teacherat that high school 18.3Highest 13.5Lowest
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.

Potomac neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Potomac’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 Potomac

T
+ Compare
Travilah11,721 people · $1.33M homes
G
+ Compare
Great Falls, VA15,228 people · $1.41M homes
+ Compare
Rockville67,671 people · $682K homes
N
+ Compare
North Bethesda49,677 people · $732K homes

Towns like Potomac

+ Compare
Bowie57,926 people · $459K homes
+ Compare
Annapolis40,720 people · $549K homes
+ Compare
Gaithersburg69,825 people · $497K homes
+ Compare
Frederick83,395 people · $402K 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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