Vienna vs McLean: culture differences?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one would prefer Hamlet over Langley Oakes. They should not even be compared. Hamlet is more comparable to Pimmet Hills than anywhere in McLean (I think parts of it is in McLean).

It's Langley Oaks, not Oakes.

I could see some people preferring McLean Hamlet over Langley Oaks. It's closer to Tysons and has its own neighborhood pool. The houses in Langley Oaks are newer and larger, but it's kind of sterile. Of course, the neighborhoods in Vienna like Langley Oaks (like some of the areas in 22181 off Lawyers Road) cost less because they are in Vienna rather than McLean, zoned to lower-ranked schools, and further away from DC.

As someone who looked in both of these neighborhoods, the houses in Mclean Hamlet are MUCH MUCH smaller and older. Lots of older split level homes in Mclean Hamlet vs bigger colonials in Langley Oaks. Langley Oaks is also more expensive - even the older, not updated homes go for over 1.5 now.

That sounds right. But, believe it or not, some people may prefer less expensive neighborhoods because of other factors, whether it's the proximity to Tysons, a community pool, or a younger demographic. Schools aren't a big consideration there, since both neighborhoods feed into Cooper and Langley - the only difference is the ES - Langley Oaks feeds into Churchill Road and McLean Hamlet into Spring Hill.

[Anonymous]

Come on, McLean is wealthier than Vienna. Vienna is almost an ex-burb.

[Anonymous]

I have lived in both with kids. Vienna is more family-friendly, better sense of community, and has more annoying neighbors who want to know your business. McLean is more laid back even though it is richer. It also can be too quiet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Come on, McLean is wealthier than Vienna. Vienna is almost an ex-burb.

I think the consensus of reasonable voices here is that McLean is wealthier in that it is unmatched in its wealthier neighborhoods. But there is no way that you can say that any McLean neighborhood is wealthier/appealing than any Vienna neighborhood.

I think this thread would have ended if McLean Hamlet was not brought up, because that is indeed a neighborhood that is very affordable and middle class, - and there is no way one can claim it is better than all of Vienna. Most of Vienna is in a different league (not on par with the best of McLean, but common at least double McLean Hamlet). And yes Vienna does have neighborhoods that are the same or lower than McLean Hamlet.

You need to just drive there once to see how middle class McLean Hamlet, and it could never gentrify to the extent of other neighborhoods because it bounds both 495 and the Toll Road giving you constant noise from different direction. Poster was right to compare it to Pimmet Hills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Come on, McLean is wealthier than Vienna. Vienna is almost an ex-burb.

I think the consensus of reasonable voices here is that McLean is wealthier in that it is unmatched in its wealthier neighborhoods. But there is no way that you can say that any McLean neighborhood is wealthier/appealing than any Vienna neighborhood.

I think this thread would have ended if McLean Hamlet was not brought up, because that is indeed a neighborhood that is very affordable and middle class, - and there is no way one can claim it is better than all of Vienna. Most of Vienna is in a different league (not on par with the best of McLean, but common at least double McLean Hamlet). And yes Vienna does have neighborhoods that are the same or lower than McLean Hamlet.

You need to just drive there once to see how middle class McLean Hamlet, and it could never gentrify to the extent of other neighborhoods because it bounds both 495 and the Toll Road giving you constant noise from different direction. Poster was right to compare it to Pimmet Hills.

I do think there is appeal to some people about MH being middle class, and that is fine. Not everyone has the same preferences.

[Anonymous]

I rather go to McLean for trick or treating. More big chocolate bars are given and houses with boxes left outside.

[Anonymous]

They’re literally almost the same. I xcan’t believe this has gone on for 5 pages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both neighborhoods do not allow tear downs as far as I know, so the housing stock is aging. I would rather live in a new build in the McLean HS district than in one of those neighborhoods. I guess some of the homes are renovated though.

Langley Oaks and McLean Hamlet both have (overly ?) active HOAs with lots of rules and mandatory HOA fees. We avoided both in order to stay away from the HOA circus. Both neighborhoods have aging houses, with some better kept up than others.

I hear anecdotes suggesting McLean Hamlet recently has allowed at least one tear-down, but I am not certain if that anecdote is true. At least one family we know picked McLean Hamlet only because of the swim team, even though they did not particularly like the (older, smaller, & dated) house they bought. They say they will move as soon as their last kid starts college.

[Anonymous]

Both are on the ugly side of McLean.

[Anonymous]

McLean seems more private, less middle aged families. Vienna seems more family oriented, but striver-ish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both are on the ugly side of McLean.

You must be trolling. The north side of Route 123 is the more manicured, expensive part of McLean. Bigger houses, bigger lots, Langley HS.

The south side of Route 123 is more like Vienna. Smaller houses, smaller lots, more teardowns/new builds, more younger families, McLean HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both neighborhoods do not allow tear downs as far as I know, so the housing stock is aging. I would rather live in a new build in the McLean HS district than in one of those neighborhoods. I guess some of the homes are renovated though.

Langley Oaks and McLean Hamlet both have (overly ?) active HOAs with lots of rules and mandatory HOA fees. We avoided both in order to stay away from the HOA circus. Both neighborhoods have aging houses, with some better kept up than others.

I hear anecdotes suggesting McLean Hamlet recently has allowed at least one tear-down, but I am not certain if that anecdote is true. At least one family we know picked McLean Hamlet only because of the swim team, even though they did not particularly like the (older, smaller, & dated) house they bought. They say they will move as soon as their last kid starts college.

So much misinformation. McLean Hamlet is full on tear down territory now for any of its original homes. Several cul de sacs were added ten years after OG hamlet and these homes are bigger (about 3500 square ft) and more in the traditional colonial style. Those OG teardowns are priced above $1M. The homes on our cul de sac have significant renovations and additions, because we all decided to stay in the neighborhood rather than move up.
The HOA is $100 per year and pays for landscaping at the entrances to the neighborhood, the luminaries to every house for a winter Festival of Lights (not "Christmas Eve") and an annual picnic with some freebies. That's it. The HOA has zero legal authority. The teardowns and new home builds are limited only by Fairfax County building codes. Our McLean Hamlet cul de sac has mostly older families now where young adult kids visit parents who seem to be working from home at reduced schedule, all either lawyers or financial guys. We enjoy our paid off mortgages, Fords or Mercedes, close proximity if we need to get to our offices, the flexibility to SAH if desired, etc.
I agree that the Hamlet is unattractive but there are reason so many people choose to buy and stay. I don't intend to convince anyone of anything but to clarify some false info here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’re literally almost the same. I xcan’t believe this has gone on for 5 pages.

5 pages? A thread like this comes up every other year. And it’s silly. One is not better than the other. It’s about commute, personal preferences, and individual neighborhoods within the two towns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vienna has a lot of working class folks that inherited homes

Oh no! Not working class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna has a lot of working class folks that inherited homes

Oh no! Not working class.

I wouldn't say it was ever working class...when the original homes in the Town of Vienna were built, most of the residents were middle class professionals--lots of federal workers, for example.