How rich do you have to be to live in McLean, Great Falls or Vienna?

[Anonymous]

Our HHI is between 250k-400k+
We are both well educated at good schools and have lived abroad. We aren’t too showy and do not come from wealthy families. We are looking for a nice single family home in a nice neighborhood with good schools. McLean has the best schools but I’m worried about being the “poor” family in an otherwise very rich area. What about Vienna?

Which would be a good fit for us?

[Anonymous]

That is a wide flux from year to year. What is your housing budget?

[Anonymous]

Vienna is your best bet. I don’t know of anyone that puts Vienna in the same category as Great Falls and to a lesser extent McLean. Vienna is a great option.

[Anonymous]

Our HHI is $250k and we live comfortably in Vienna. Not a new build but a nice colonial that is ample space for our family of 4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our HHI is between 250k-400k+
We are both well educated at good schools and have lived abroad. We aren’t too showy and do not come from wealthy families. We are looking for a nice single family home in a nice neighborhood with good schools. McLean has the best schools but I’m worried about being the “poor” family in an otherwise very rich area. What about Vienna?

Which would be a good fit for us?

It’s quite simple - if you can afford a house in those areas it will be assumed that you belong. No one is going to audit your finances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vienna is your best bet. I don’t know of anyone that puts Vienna in the same category as Great Falls and to a lesser extent McLean. Vienna is a great option.

How so? Vienna is right at the borders of McLean/Tysons. Lots or rich people here too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is a wide flux from year to year. What is your housing budget?

Trying to determine it. DH is a business owner so income range is as stated and more.

[Anonymous]

We live in McLean and there is a wide range of income levels (many people who bought decades ago for much lower prices). Our HHI is around $250k and we feel fine in our neighborhood.
The wealthiest people go to private schools anyway, so you may not run into them as much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna is your best bet. I don’t know of anyone that puts Vienna in the same category as Great Falls and to a lesser extent McLean. Vienna is a great option.

How so? Vienna is right at the borders of McLean/Tysons. Lots or rich people here too.

There’s rich people in all these towns including Arlington and Alexandria. My point is that in Great Falls a majority of people are wealthy, not the case in Vienna. However, people from another state looking at this area would say that we are ALL wealthy.

[Anonymous]

We are a fed family (spouse and I are both feds) and live in Great Falls. We have a small house and my kids share a used car (nothing fancy). We do not go on fancy vacations or anything. We love it here and our lack of wealth is no big deal — my kids gravitate towards other fed families or to kids who don’t care if what our house looks like.

[Anonymous]

We live in Great Falls and our HHI is ~350k. There are plenty of people in our neighborhood who make less than us a d plenty who make more than us. We could not be happier. It’s a great place to live.

[Anonymous]

Great falls isn’t that nice anymore. It can be very affordable.

[Anonymous]

the median household income in mclean is just over 200k

[Anonymous]

Great Falls is awesome. Market went crazy recently (multiple offers over list) as perfect place to shelter in place during a pandemic (big homes, lots of land...).

Agree with PP - if you can afford a house you are "rich enough" to live here. Don't over-think it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the median household income in mclean is just over 200k

That’s probably because of all of the old people who live in McLean and aren’t working any more.