Why is McLean so prestigious?

[Anonymous]

Another McLean bashing thread. Yawn! Who the $^%! cares. Let it go people

[Anonymous]

The high # of Saudi princes.

At least according to some DCUM McLean nut...

[Anonymous]

There is nothing prestigious about McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seem to be a never-ending series of threads started about McLean as a pretext to bash it. I don't really get it, since I don't see people in McLean pushing it on posters with the same frequency as posters from Arlington, Falls Church City, or Vienna.

There's no mystery about why people move to McLean: (1) it's centrally located between DC and Tysons; (2) houses there are among the largest and nicest of any DC-area suburb; (3) the public schools are top-rated and it's also easier to get to DC/MD privates than it is from other parts of NoVa given the proximity to Chain Bridge and 495; and (4) it's safe and quiet.

There's also no mystery about why other people avoid McLean: (1) the population trends older than in many other areas; (2) there's no nightlife and the retail area is underwhelming; (3) it's mostly White and Asian, so some URMs may feel unwelcome; and (4) Republicans live there as well as Democrats.

But is it "old money"? Overall, no (nor is there really a lot of "old money" anywhere in this region). It's higher-income people, many professionals and/or first or second-generation Americans, with work ties to DC or Tysons.

Are most of its residents retired and old? No, again (McLean HS, for example, has been among the fastest-growing high schools in FCPS in recent years).

Is it mostly Republican? No, yet again (it has been mostly Democratic for years, but Republicans aren't as outnumbered as they are in Arlington or Bethesda).

I meant old people. Not old money. Old people who bought expensive houses in the 90s.

Didn't you just confirm what was said? More likely to be a white, old, Republicans than other areas nearby. Not that it's everybody or even most people.

Depends on the metric. It's less White than Vienna or Falls Church City, less Republican than Great Falls or Oakton, and not as old as Chevy Chase (MD).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing prestigious about McLean.

Get it off your chest, buttercup.

[Anonymous]

Wealthy does not equal prestige.

I have nothing against McLean, but just want to point this out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wealthy does not equal prestige.

I have nothing against McLean, but just want to point this out.

Do tell, since you are apparently an expert on "prestige."

"Prestigious" is one of the most overused adjective on this forum. It's a highly subjective term used by bored, sad people just looking for an excuse to take a dump on another area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wealthy does not equal prestige.

I have nothing against McLean, but just want to point this out.

Do tell, since you are apparently an expert on "prestige."

"Prestigious" is one of the most overused adjective on this forum. It's a highly subjective term used by bored, sad people just looking for an excuse to take a dump on another area.

Do you think Loudoun county is prestigious?
-DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing prestigious about McLean.

Get it off your chest, buttercup.

Sorry, it is just not
Wealthy? Yes, prestigious? No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because there are huge showy houses there. JFK started it.

That would be RFK. Jackie’s dad had a house there but JFK never did.

JFK bought Hickory Hill in 1955. In 1956 he sold it to his brother.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hickory_Hill_(McLean,_Virginia)

He sold it to his parents who rented it to his brother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing prestigious about McLean.

Get it off your chest, buttercup.

Sorry, it is just not
Wealthy? Yes, prestigious? No

Thanks again for answering a question that people who actually live there don't spend much time asking. But please keep your insights a secret - we wouldn't want this to get out.

[Anonymous]

High government officials, agency directors, etc. have lived in McLean. They are lik D.C. Celebrities. This makes it a prestigious place.

[Anonymous]

^^ like

[Anonymous]

Recall a kid pronouncing it "mick-lean," so it sounded like the McDonald's deluxe McLean burger. lol. Must have made all those living in the prestigious McLean cringe.

[Anonymous]

I have heard /mic leen/