OP, this chain has gone off the rails a bit but I wanted to weigh in since we faced a very similar decision about a year ago. We did an exhaustive search throughout close-in Bethesda (inside beltway and easy access to 495) and McLean since we both work in Tysons. We ended up in McLean and have been very happy here. Doing such a wide search was awful and I definitely don’t recommend it— too many properties, too many failed bids, and too many neighborhoods to really know. We brought that upon ourselves.

But anyway, back to what you asked. I initially preferred Bethesda because I was more familiar with it, and had a couple of friends that moved there and seemed happy. Also i just perceived of it as “nicer / more tasteful / classier” and I guess I wanted to be associated with that. I honestly have no idea why I thought those things and I’m so embarrassed now about it but maybe it was linked to the many, many comments on DCUM about Bethesda being old money and McLean being more gauche. Neither of us are remotely close to old money but maybe I wanted people to perceive us as fancy (see I told you this was so embarrassing). Speaking to my friends in Bethesda turned up sort of similar sentiments about Bethesda being nicer, greener etc. And there are certainly some beautiful neighborhoods there (eg Bannockburn estates, etc). But the more time we spent there (our search was long), we realized that most of the neighborhoods that we wanted to live in were a 10 min drive to grocery stores, restaurants, etc. Also, neither of us plan to be at our current job for more than a couple of years and it seemed like NoVa, especially Tysons, had way more opportunities. Didn’t really seem like MD was doing as much to attract companies. Also, private school seemed to be a more common choice in Bethesda and we really want to do public. This may be changing in NoVa slowly - I don’t know.
So we started spending more time in McLean and found that we really liked the neighborhoods bordering downtown. They were just a couple of minutes drive or a manageable walk to restaurants, library, community center etc. Super quick commute to Tysons when we need to go in. Great schools. We loved the offerings at the community center for our little kids. The community has been warm. We have been very happy. I don’t think you can go wrong with either Bethesda or McLean but if you work in Tyson’s or in a field that has a lot of options in NoVa, I think McLean could be a good fit.

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Anonymous wrote:Tysons hands down. You will end up paying a lot more in Bethesda with crazy county income tax. It is 3.25% so take that out from your salary and now figure out the rent. Doesn't make sense at all.

The numbers speak for themselves. As a high income earner for OP, the county tax is going to be tens of thousands of $ss every year.

If taxes are so important to you, why don't you move to TN, FL, TX, WA, etc?

Nice try Marc Eldritch! Some people think they should be allowed to live in the DC metro area and still not get hosed with commmunist taxes. But I guess you don't udnerstand that as the worst mayor that has ever existed in Maryland.

And here, OP, is an example of the type of person you’d be living next to in Tysons

Exactly ..a bunch of blowhard sales managers driving 3 series BMWs complaining about “communist taxes”

Absolutely not. I'm a Tysons resident, and I don't know anyone like that irl. My neighbors are kind and thoughtful.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tysons hands down. You will end up paying a lot more in Bethesda with crazy county income tax. It is 3.25% so take that out from your salary and now figure out the rent. Doesn't make sense at all.

The numbers speak for themselves. As a high income earner for OP, the county tax is going to be tens of thousands of $ss every year.

If taxes are so important to you, why don't you move to TN, FL, TX, WA, etc?

Nice try Marc Eldritch! Some people think they should be allowed to live in the DC metro area and still not get hosed with commmunist taxes. But I guess you don't udnerstand that as the worst mayor that has ever existed in Maryland.

And here, OP, is an example of the type of person you’d be living next to in Tysons

Exactly ..a bunch of blowhard sales managers driving 3 series BMWs complaining about “communist taxes”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tysons hands down. You will end up paying a lot more in Bethesda with crazy county income tax. It is 3.25% so take that out from your salary and now figure out the rent. Doesn't make sense at all.

The numbers speak for themselves. As a high income earner for OP, the county tax is going to be tens of thousands of $ss every year.

If taxes are so important to you, why don't you move to TN, FL, TX, WA, etc?

Nice try Marc Eldritch! Some people think they should be allowed to live in the DC metro area and still not get hosed with commmunist taxes. But I guess you don't udnerstand that as the worst mayor that has ever existed in Maryland.

And here, OP, is an example of the type of person you’d be living next to in Tysons

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tysons hands down. You will end up paying a lot more in Bethesda with crazy county income tax. It is 3.25% so take that out from your salary and now figure out the rent. Doesn't make sense at all.

The numbers speak for themselves. As a high income earner for OP, the county tax is going to be tens of thousands of $ss every year.

If taxes are so important to you, why don't you move to TN, FL, TX, WA, etc?

Nice try Marc Eldritch! Some people think they should be allowed to live in the DC metro area and still not get hosed with commmunist taxes. But I guess you don't udnerstand that as the worst mayor that has ever existed in Maryland.

Ok then explain all the wealth in NY, CT, NJ, MA, MD, etc?

Most that care about a few % here or there are new money or frankly think they are rich when they aren't. Most people that complain about taxes make less than 500k a year and say "I am getting killed." People with established wealth care more about the community they live in than saving a couple % in income taxes.

Again, there is a reason why wealth is concentrated on the coasts..

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tysons hands down. You will end up paying a lot more in Bethesda with crazy county income tax. It is 3.25% so take that out from your salary and now figure out the rent. Doesn't make sense at all.

The numbers speak for themselves. As a high income earner for OP, the county tax is going to be tens of thousands of $ss every year.

If taxes are so important to you, why don't you move to TN, FL, TX, WA, etc?

Nice try Marc Eldritch! Some people think they should be allowed to live in the DC metro area and still not get hosed with commmunist taxes. But I guess you don't udnerstand that as the worst mayor that has ever existed in Maryland.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tysons hands down. You will end up paying a lot more in Bethesda with crazy county income tax. It is 3.25% so take that out from your salary and now figure out the rent. Doesn't make sense at all.

The numbers speak for themselves. As a high income earner for OP, the county tax is going to be tens of thousands of $ss every year.

If taxes are so important to you, why don't you move to TN, FL, TX, WA, etc?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tysons hands down. You will end up paying a lot more in Bethesda with crazy county income tax. It is 3.25% so take that out from your salary and now figure out the rent. Doesn't make sense at all.

The numbers speak for themselves. As a high income earner for OP, the county tax is going to be tens of thousands of $ss every year.

As if renters pay any tax.

Anonymous wrote:Tysons hands down. You will end up paying a lot more in Bethesda with crazy county income tax. It is 3.25% so take that out from your salary and now figure out the rent. Doesn't make sense at all.

The numbers speak for themselves. As a high income earner for OP, the county tax is going to be tens of thousands of $ss every year.

new money vs old money

It's a tale as old as time

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Anonymous wrote:I drive over the American Legion Bridge and see all those EZPASS/EXPRESS/LEFT signs looming over the road and am glad I live in MD

When is MD going to man up and expand the highway to ease traffic??

Maybe your southern people should take your white hoods off and realize VA is the traffic issue

As a black guy, I feel way less comfortable in your hood versus VA. You guys STILL attend and put on a pedestal country clubs with some of the most vile history (You guys lovingly refer to it as “Chevy” on here), and people in Bethesda / Chevy Chase are just all around mean to black people. Maybe Virginians are fake but i feel way less racism over there.

Gov of Maryland is Black the Gov of a Virginia literally wore a KKK hood

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tysons hands down. You will end up paying a lot more in Bethesda with crazy county income tax. It is 3.25% so take that out from your salary and now figure out the rent. Doesn't make sense at all.

we gross 800k and the 20-30k I would save in taxes is immaterial. I gladly pay more to live in Bethesda. It's not all about taxes. If it were, the northeast would be a landfill..but it's still the epicenter of business/wealth in the US.

I gross more than 800K, and VA's lower taxes are a significant factor both in our choosing VA over MD originally and in keeping us here.

+1. Only someone who grew up extremely privileged would describe 20-30k as immaterial. I make 2.2, but grew up with nothing and had to sacrifice a lot to get here, so I don’t consider 20-30k to be immaterial at all. I will continue to do everything in my power to give as little $ as possible to the government.