City comparison
McLean, VA is about 0 miles (10 km) from Potomac, MD in a straight line. By road, the drive is roughly 10 miles, or about 6 min behind the wheel at highway speeds.
Driving distance is a rough estimate (great-circle × 1.25); driving time assumes a 60 mph blended average. Real trips run 10–20% longer with stops.
A direct flight from McLean, VA to Potomac, MD takes about 1 min, covering roughly 0 miles in a straight line. Connecting itineraries with a layover typically add 1–3 hours.
Block-to-block estimate at ~500 mph cruise, including taxi, climb, and descent — what an airline would publish, not pure airborne time.
McLean has a population of 49,587, vs 46,499 in Potomac — about the same size. By land area, Potomac covers about 25 sq mi vs 25 sq mi for McLean.
Population from US Census ACS. Land area from the Census Gazetteer (city proper, excluding inland water).
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | McLean | Potomac | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $3,319/mo | $2,584/mo | 28.4% higher in McLean |
| Median home value | $1,257,900 | $1,044,900 | 20.4% higher in McLean |
| Median household income | $250,001 | $218,710 | 14.3% higher in McLean |
| Groceries index | 104.3 | 104.3 | ≈ equal |
| Utilities index | 105.6 | 105.6 | ≈ equal |
| Transportation index | 102.2 | 102.2 | ≈ equal |
| Healthcare index | 101.6 | 101.6 | ≈ equal |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in McLean, you'd need $98,277 in Potomac to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Potomac, MD is about 1.7% cheaper overall than McLean, VA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 3% higher in McLean than in Potomac. If you earn $80,000 in McLean, you'd need about $78,622 in Potomac to keep the same standard of living.