Arlington, VA vs McLean, VA
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Oct 2026
Report card
| Category | ArlingtonArlington, VA | McLeanMcLean, VA | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Great | |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | Safe | Safe | Same |
| Education | Same | ||
| Quality of Life | Average | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Exposed | Exposed | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 46.2 years, McLean, VA has a median age 10.7 years older than Arlington, VA's 35.5, a gap reflected in the 88th versus 29th percentile. 2023 Census figures show McLean's average household size of 2.9 is 40% larger than Arlington's 2.1, placing McLean in the 88th percentile and Arlington in the 9th. McLean's population of 50,232 is far smaller than Arlington's 235,463, a 4.7× difference that puts Arlington in the 96th percentile.
Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 16 in Arlington and 7 in McLean, a 2.4× higher rate in Arlington, which lands in the 50th percentile versus McLean's 12th. Healthcare access scores differ notably, with McLean scoring 100/100 (90th percentile) and Arlington 88/100 (56th percentile), a 12-point gap. Job growth over the past year was +1.1% in McLean (50th percentile) while Arlington saw 0.0% (21st percentile), a 1.1-point difference. The air quality index is 42 in McLean (46th percentile) and 36 in Arlington (18th percentile), 17% higher in McLean.
The cost of living index, with 100 as the U.S. average, is 359 in McLean and 240 in Arlington, making McLean 50% higher, both in the 94th percentile or above. Median household income is $250,001 in McLean (99th percentile) versus $140,160 in Arlington (93rd percentile), a 78% higher figure in McLean. Violent crime rates per 100,000 are 210 in Arlington and 203 in McLean, a difference described as about the same.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
Looking at homes in Arlington or McLean?
Get a property report for a specific address.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Arlington, VA | McLean, VA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 24094th pctl | 35998th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Arlington, VA 240; McLean, VA 359; McLean is 50% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $864,80094th pctl | $1,304,90098th pctl | Median home value: Arlington, VA $864,800; McLean, VA $1,304,900; McLean is 51% higher. |
| Median rent | $2,27595th pctl | $3,37699th pctl | Median rent: Arlington, VA $2,275; McLean, VA $3,376; McLean is 48% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $140,16093rd pctl | $250,00199th pctl | Median household income: Arlington, VA $140,160; McLean, VA $250,001; McLean is 78% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $168,01695th pctl | $253,51998th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Arlington, VA $168,016; McLean, VA $253,519; McLean is 51% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $246,98395th pctl | $372,67398th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Arlington, VA $246,983; McLean, VA $372,673; McLean is 51% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in McLean needs about
$112,200
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 240 vs 359). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Arlington, VA | McLean, VA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 2.2%2nd pctl | 2.6%10th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | 0.0%21st pctl | +1.1%50th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Arlington, VA 0.0%; McLean, VA +1.1%; McLean is 1.1 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $88,02495th pctl | $124,55798th pctl | Per-capita income: Arlington, VA $88,024; McLean, VA $124,557; McLean is 42% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 7.1%25th pctl | 2.7%4th pctl | Poverty rate: Arlington, VA 7.1%; McLean, VA 2.7%; Arlington is 4.4 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 26.6 min71st pctl | 28.1 min80th pctl | Average commute: Arlington, VA 26.6 min; McLean, VA 28.1 min; McLean is 1 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 31.5%97th pctl | 35.1%98th pctl | Work from home: Arlington, VA 31.5%; McLean, VA 35.1%; McLean is 3.6 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Strong | Strong | Economic opportunity: Arlington, VA B+; McLean, VA A; McLean is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Arlington, VA | McLean, VA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 21045th pctl | 20343rd pctl | About the same |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,39450th pctl | 1,34448th pctl | About the same |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Safe | Safe | About the same |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Arlington, VA B+; McLean, VA A+; McLean is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Arlington, VA | McLean, VA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | AverageState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | AverageState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | National disaster risk: Arlington, VA D+; McLean, VA F; Arlington is graded higher. |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort, broadband and local food access aren't available for either place; walkability isn't available for McLean, VA.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Virginia, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Virginia →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Arlington, VA | McLean, VA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 3 mi3rd pctl | 8 mi8th pctl | Nearest large city: Arlington, VA 3 mi; McLean, VA 8 mi; McLean is 2.3 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Poor | Target proximity: Arlington, VA C-; McLean, VA D-; Arlington is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 299 mi45th pctl | 294 mi44th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 108 mi30th pctl | 113 mi30th pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Exposed | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Arlington, VA | McLean, VA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 235,46396th pctl | 50,23274th pctl | Population: Arlington, VA 235,463; McLean, VA 50,232; Arlington is 4.7 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 67th pctl | 15th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Arlington, VA 6; McLean, VA 1; Arlington is 4.7 times higher. |
| Median age | 35.529th pctl | 46.288th pctl | Median age: Arlington, VA 35.5; McLean, VA 46.2; McLean is 10.7 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 77.1%97th pctl | 85.1%99th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Arlington, VA 77.1%; McLean, VA 85.1%; McLean is 8.0 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.19th pctl | 2.988th pctl | Average household size: Arlington, VA 2.1; McLean, VA 2.9; McLean is 40% larger. |
More about Arlington's residents · McLean's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Arlington and McLean
- Median rent: $2,275 in Arlington, $3,376 in McLean
- Median home value: $864,800 in Arlington, $1,304,900 in McLean
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 240 in Arlington, 359 in McLean
- Median household income: $140,160 in Arlington, $250,001 in McLean
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $246,983 in Arlington, $372,673 in McLean
- Unemployment: 2.2% in Arlington, 2.6% in McLean
- Average commute: 26.6 min in Arlington, 28.1 min in McLean
- Violent crime per 100k: 210 in Arlington, 203 in McLean
Weigh these by what matters to you
ReloMaps in ChatGPT can look at Arlington and McLean against your own priorities, like budget, commute or climate.
Use ReloMaps in ChatGPT →Found a home in Arlington or McLean?
A property report covers the address itself: the block, the neighbourhood data, risks and more, beyond these city-wide figures.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Compare a different pair
More places like Arlington and McLean
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
ReloMaps may earn a commission from affiliate links at no extra cost to you.