Capital One, Mars, Geebo, Booz Allen Hamilton, Freddie Mac and Hilton Worldwide are among the companies based in McLean, Virginia.   Many businesses in neighboring Tysons Corner, particularly those east of Leesburg Pike (VA Route 7) have a McLean mailing address, because the US Postal Service boundary for West McLean (zip code 22102) generally follows Leesburg Pike.

As of 2012, 61.6% of the population over the age of 16 was in the labor force. 0.4% was in the armed forces, and 61.2% was in the civilian labor force with 58.4% employed and 2.9% unemployed. The occupational composition of the employed civilian labor force was: 73.2% in management, business, science, and arts; 17.9% in sales and office occupations; 5.5% in service occupations; 2.0% in natural resources, construction, and maintenance; 1.4% in production, transportation, and material moving. The three industries employing the largest percentages of the working civilian labor force were: professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (27.8%); educational services, health care, and social assistance (17.7%); and public administration (16.6%).

The cost of living in McLean is very high; compared to a U.S. average of 100, the cost of living index for the community is 142.6.  As of 2012, the median home value in the community was $908,000, the median selected monthly owner cost was $3,803 for housing units with a mortgage and $1,000+ for those without, and the median gross rent was $2,000+.

As of the 2010 census, there were 48,115 people, 17,063 households, and 13,453 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,940.9 people per square mile (749.4/km²). There were 17,756 housing units at an average density of 716.3 per square mile (276.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 79.3% White, 14.9% Asian, 1.8% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.8% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 4.9% of the population.

There were 17,063 households out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.5% were married couples living together, 2.4% had a male householder with no wife present, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. Of all households, 18.0% were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80, and the average family size was 3.17.

The median age was 45.1 years. 26.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 4.3% was 18 to 24, 18.6% was 25 to 44, 33.2% was 45 to 64, and 17.0% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the community was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $164,888, and the median income for a family was $194,832. Males had a median income of $132,714 versus $87,663 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $87,073. About 1.3% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under the age of 18 and 3.2% of those 65 and older.

The Capital Beltway, George Washington Memorial Parkway, Interstate 66, Dulles Access Road, Dolley Madison Boulevard/Chain Bridge Road, Georgetown Pike, and Old Dominion Drive all run through McLean. McLean Station on the Washington Metro Silver Line opened in 2014, two miles west of the village near Tysons Corner.

Langley High School is one of two high schools within the McLean CDP.

Primary and Secondary Schools

McLean residents are zoned to schools in the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).

FCPS public elementary schools within the CDP include Chesterbrook; Churchill Road; Haycock; Kent Gardens; Franklin Sherman, and Spring Hill,.   FCPS public middle schools within the CDP include James Fenimore Cooper Middle School and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Middle School.   FCPS public high schools within the CDP include Langley High School and McLean High School.

In addition, the Mount Daniel School of the Falls Church City Public Schools is physically within McLean.

Several private schools, ranging from pre-school to 12th grade, are located in McLean, including The Langley School, The Madeira School; The Potomac School; Oakcrest School; Saint Luke School; Saint John School;   Brooksfield Montessori, The Montessori School of McLean and the Country Day School.

The German School Washington, D.C. was previously in McLean.

Higher Education

Nearby colleges and universities include the Marymount University in Arlington and DeVry University (Arlington campus). The University of Virginia‘s School of Continuing and Professional Studies has an academic center in Falls Church, just south of McLean. George Mason University is located 9 miles southwest of McLean in Fairfax, Virginia.

Public Libraries

Fairfax County Public Library operates the Dolley Madison Library in the CDP.^[15][21]

Weekend Educational Programs

The Washington Japanese Language School (WJLS, ワシントン日本語学校 Washinton Nihongo Gakkō), a supplementary weekend Japanese school, previously held classes at St. Luke Catholic School in McLean.  The institution, giving supplemental education to Japanese-speaking children in the Washington DC area, was founded in 1958,  making it the oldest Japanese government-sponsored supplementary school in the U.S.  The Polish School of Washington D.C. holds classes on Saturdays at Longfellow Middle School, which are funded by the Polish Embassy in Washington D.C.

The Mount Daniel School Park, operated by The City of Falls Church, is physically within McLean.  Clemyjontri Park, opened in 2006,  with its 2-acre playground, carousel and picnic pavaillion is a popular destination for families. Claude Moore Colonial Farm is also popular with history buffs and families.