McLean: Demographics & People
McLean's population stands at 49,627 people, in 17,147 households. Population shrank 1.2% from 50,232 (2022) to 49,627 (2024). Median age 46.6 years. (8.0y older than Fairfax County; 8.8y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 25% of the population. Population is 65% White (non-Hispanic) and 21% Asian. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.46). 80% of households are family-led. County is losing 28,691 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 27% adult obesity, 8% smoke.
- 2.9 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 20% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 84 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 1.2% from 50,232 (2022) to 49,627 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~49,033 (extrapolated at -0.6%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 48,250.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,150,309 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -1.2% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 50,232 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 49,627 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 49,627 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 48,250 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 46.6y is 7.7 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 25% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 46.6 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 25.4% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 49,627 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 12,613 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 5,316.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 21,676.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 10,022 |
| Population under 18 | 12,613 |
| Median age | 46.6 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 49,627 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.46 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 33,729 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 1,107 |
| Asian residents | 10,426 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 2,825 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 45.7% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 70.1% |
| Asian population | 20.8% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 1.7% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 6.3% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 65.2% (vs Virginia 53.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 2.7% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 25% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 11,284 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 24,571 |
| Share born in this state | 22.7% |
| Share born in another state | 77.3% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 49.5% |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.7% |
| Naturalized citizens | 25.0% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 11,693 |
| From Europe | 2,228 |
| From Asia | 84 |
| From Africa | 7,491 |
| From Latin America | 32 |
| Census Foreign Born · South America | 11 |
Households & Family Composition
17,147 households. Averaging 2.9 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 80% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 13,807 families, 45% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 13,149 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 13,807 |
| Married couples with children | 6,182 |
| Single-parent households | 200 |
| Average household size | 2.91 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 4.7% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 195 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 69 |
| Family households | 13,803 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 80.5% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 17,147 households (vs Virginia 14,324) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 10.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 28,691 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 10.3% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 1,133,831 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 1,162,522 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -28,691 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 1,578 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 3.2% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 323 residents live in group quarters (0.7% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 323 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 8 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51059 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 059 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Fairfax |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 8.2% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 7.70 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 8.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51059 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Fairfax County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 21,551 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51059 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Fairfax County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 95.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 81.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 49.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 1,147,532 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 8 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 27 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 25.4% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 49,627, declining, established, affluent, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 49,627 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Fairfax County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade