If you want to save money (maybe $1000) then you can live walking distance from your office. I can give you the rundown of the places around your office if you are interested. I would advise renting a condo rather than from an apartment complex.

You could even find a lower end SFH in McLean proper for $2500/month, noting that McLean is the premier suburb in DC area.

Clarendon and adjacent neighborhoods are very sterile with lots of crappy restaurants. The vibe is awful. Shopping is great, however with a WF, TJ and Pain Quotidien right next to each other. I think the main benefit of Clarendon is being closer to DC, but outside rush hour you can drive from McLean to downtown DC in 15 min. And today there is a metro.

The buildings in the Clarendon are junk (it is a problem that afflicts construction in the US in general) so you will suffer noise from neighbors even if you pay $$$$ for a "luxury" apartment.