I have not found Vienna to be a friendly place. For all its vaunted "small town feel" there is a surprising lack of community here. I have no idea if it's better in McLean, though.

I grew up in McLean, presently live in Vienna and may move to McLean or stay in Vienna once we are ready to own a home.

Here are my observations:

Location:

The both towns have distinct advantages depending on what you are seeking close proximity to; the city or the rest of NOVA. In McLean you are about 15 minutes away from DC and there are multiple routes to take you there. In Vienna, you have the best of both worlds: a 40 car ride into the city and you are in the middle of McLean/Tysons AND Oakton/Fairfax. You have equal access to both towns and their amenities while being close enough to have a decent commute to DC.

In McLean you do tend to have a DC or McLean mindset and generally locals do not venture out further than Tysons Corner. When I moved to Vienna, I was surprised to find wonderful restaurants and parks exist beyond the Tysons area and into Fairfax and beyond.

Community:

Contrary to what people say we found people in McLean down to earth, kind and wonderful neighbors. Our neighborhood, however, wasn't one of the ones with the 4 million McMansions and our neighbors were laywers and feds and diplomats. I had a wonderful idyllic childhood devoid of obsession with money or status.

Our neighbors in Vienna are I would say, surprisingly less social or friendly. They are also equally successful professionals what with being feds, engineers and successful business owners. I will say that Vienna residents are generally a smidge less polished than the ones I grew up with McLean. I see a lot more baseball caps and t shirts on men here than I did in McLean.

The reason to live in McLean is for the bette commute to DC. Otherwise the neighborhoods are so similar it doesn’t really matter. I live in McLean btw.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. There is no situation. People in Vienna could never afford to live in McLean.

That is entirely untrue. Plenty of people with high net worths in Vienna; it’s literally one town over.

You may want to adjust your sarcasm meter. Pretty sure PP was being tongue-in-cheek.

Anonymous wrote:No. There is no situation. People in Vienna could never afford to live in McLean.

That is entirely untrue. Plenty of people with high net worths in Vienna; it’s literally one town over.

Anonymous wrote:Both hold traffic jams.
Vienna has less drama, I think. I was able to walk to Wolf Trap to see Chicago, Hall & Oates and Huey Lewis in concert.

It's a shame they didn't put a Metro station at Wolf Trap. It is right along the Silver Line between Spring Hill and Reston stations.

Both hold traffic jams.
Vienna has less drama, I think. I was able to walk to Wolf Trap to see Chicago, Hall & Oates and Huey Lewis in concert.

No. There is no situation. People in Vienna could never afford to live in McLean.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we PLEASE not go through another 23 page thread of why Vienna is or is not a good place and the same with McLean.

Seriously. You surely have read enough about these two areas.

+1

Not everyone is obsessed with status and marginally better GS ratings/US News rankings. Some people just want to walk to Taco Bamba and enjoy ViVa Vienna in peace.

LOL. I see what you did there. Talk about wanting to have your taco and eat it, too.

Sorry OP, but this topic has been debated to death on these boards. It’s better just to do a search and move on.

Search button OP.

People like different things, OP.

There are even people who could afford McLean or Vienna and live in neither.

Anonymous wrote:Can we PLEASE not go through another 23 page thread of why Vienna is or is not a good place and the same with McLean.

Seriously. You surely have read enough about these two areas.

+1

Not everyone is obsessed with status and marginally better GS ratings/US News rankings. Some people just want to walk to Taco Bamba and enjoy ViVa Vienna in peace.

Can we PLEASE not go through another 23 page thread of why Vienna is or is not a good place and the same with McLean.

Seriously. You surely have read enough about these two areas.

Obviously McLean is the more expensive and desirable of the two but I wonder if there would be a situation in which someone who could comfortably afford McLean would choose Vienna. Why?