Vienna vs McLean: culture differences?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent friends in McLean always complained about the neighborhood being older (not as many young families), not walkable, and unfriendly/standoffish. Parent friends in Vienna say it has a small-town feel and is more walkable, with more young families to socialize with.

They are both pretty affluent areas and very unapologetically suburban.

This really depends on the street and neighborhood that you live in. Some parts of McLean have a lot of kids and sidewalks, some have spread out homes and older people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We lived in Vienna TH before we moved to McLean SFH community. We moved to McLean for better school and closer commute to MD/DC. We love our neighborhood in a cul de sac. We have ice cream party at the end of school year for kids, summer cook out, and cultural celebrations for different countries. It’s also very diverse. We met lots of people from all over the world who work for embassies in DC. Lots of young families with kids, lots of new development in downtown McLean.

I love this. Which neighborhood is this?

[Anonymous]

McLean Hamlet. But houses there rarely go up for sale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLean Hamlet. But houses there rarely go up for sale.

You must have moved from the less desirable townhomes/areas of Vienna. I would say at least 60% of Vienna is more expensive and desirable than McLean Hamlet. That area is one of, if not the, most affordable parts of McLean.

[Anonymous]

Vienna has a lot of working class folks that inherited homes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean Hamlet. But houses there rarely go up for sale.

You must have moved from the less desirable townhomes/areas of Vienna. I would say at least 60% of Vienna is more expensive and desirable than McLean Hamlet. That area is one of, if not the, most affordable parts of McLean.

Any McLean neighborhood that feeds into Langley HS, including McLean Hamlet, is more “desirable” than any neighborhood in Vienna.

[Anonymous]

The schools are just better in Mclean. That can mean you don't have to worry about supplementing, or it could mean a more competitive vibe. Pluses and minuses.

[Anonymous]

OP just do your own homework and you’ll see how wrong this is.

The schools can be the same depending by on where you live (ie what street), you could be in Vienna and have kids in Langley, McLean, Marshall or Madison. And as a side note, school isn’t everything provided that they are all past a certain level (which they all are). I think you should follow the money. McLean Hamlet is a nice neighborhood but far less expensive than some neighborhoods in Vienna.

To be clear, if money is no object McLean is better than Vienna in that the best neighborhood in McLean is far better than the best neighborhood in Vienna. But it is nonsense to say that McLean Hamlet (or “any” neighborhood in McLean) is better than any neighborhood in Vienna. McLean Hamlet is a very nice neighborhood but the poster should humble down and not misinform. This should not even be a debate.

Btw the same goes with Great Falls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The schools are just better in Mclean. That can mean you don't have to worry about supplementing, or it could mean a more competitive vibe. Pluses and minuses.

This is not true. Unless you’re as foolish as to rely on great schools ratings

[Anonymous]

The Vienna vs McLean debate gets so old. Just let it go.

[Anonymous]

No homes in either community require bathroom exhaust fans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trying to stereotype these two communities is pointless. They each have homes at different price points, of different ages and types, and consist of multiple microenvironments which can be different from street to street.

In broad terms McLean is wealthier, homes cost more, and the schools are better. But Vienna has wealthier areas with new, larger homes and McLean has less expensive areas with smaller, older homes with carports instead of garages. Demographics are similar between the two.

Your experience will depend more on you and your behavior than on which area you choose to live in. If you're pleasant, sociable, flexible, and outgoing, you'll be fine anywhere. If you're arrogant, self-important, overtly political, abrasive, etc., you'll have a tough time anywhere.

Stereotype much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP just do your own homework and you’ll see how wrong this is.

The schools can be the same depending by on where you live (ie what street), you could be in Vienna and have kids in Langley, McLean, Marshall or Madison. And as a side note, school isn’t everything provided that they are all past a certain level (which they all are). I think you should follow the money. McLean Hamlet is a nice neighborhood but far less expensive than some neighborhoods in Vienna.

To be clear, if money is no object McLean is better than Vienna in that the best neighborhood in McLean is far better than the best neighborhood in Vienna. But it is nonsense to say that McLean Hamlet (or “any” neighborhood in McLean) is better than any neighborhood in Vienna. McLean Hamlet is a very nice neighborhood but the poster should humble down and not misinform. This should not even be a debate.

Btw the same goes with Great Falls.

DP. This is no longer true. You could live in a Vienna zip code and be zoned to Madison, Marshall, Oakton, South Lakes, Langley, or Falls Church depending on the address. If you live in the Town of Vienna or some other areas in 22180, 22181, or 22182, you go to Madison. Marshall includes some areas in 22180 and 22182 outside the TOV. Oakton includes some areas in 22181 outside the TOV. South Lakes includes some areas in 22181 and 22182 outside the TOV. Langley includes some areas in 22182 outside the TOV. Falls Church includes some areas in 22180 outside the TOV. Any area in Vienna that used to feed to McLean now feeds to Langley.

If you live in McLean, you are zoned to Langley (mostly north of 123 or outside the Beltway), McLean (mostly south of 123 or part of Tysons with a McLean address), or Marshall (other parts of Tysons with a McLean address).

McLean Hamlet seems similar to some areas in Vienna in the 22181 and 22182 zip codes, but more expensive than neighborhoods in Vienna w/similar houses because it's both zoned to Langley and has a McLean address. Of course, there are some areas in Vienna that are more expensive with newer and/or bigger houses that McLean Hamlet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to stereotype these two communities is pointless. They each have homes at different price points, of different ages and types, and consist of multiple microenvironments which can be different from street to street.

In broad terms McLean is wealthier, homes cost more, and the schools are better. But Vienna has wealthier areas with new, larger homes and McLean has less expensive areas with smaller, older homes with carports instead of garages. Demographics are similar between the two.

Your experience will depend more on you and your behavior than on which area you choose to live in. If you're pleasant, sociable, flexible, and outgoing, you'll be fine anywhere. If you're arrogant, self-important, overtly political, abrasive, etc., you'll have a tough time anywhere.

Stereotype much?

+1

Damn.

Where does that poster live so I can avoid her and her 1950's attitude about women should be seen and not heard?

Wow.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't worry so much about the schools. OP saying money is no object is likely untrue. I've lived in McLean for the last 20 yrs, and nobody in our neighborhood has sent their kids to public schools. Every single house (and everyone has kids) is sending their kids to private schools, either local or boarding.