Boroughs with the most born-and-bred residents in Alaska

Written by:
August 6, 2022
Arina P Habich // Shutterstock

Boroughs with the most born-and-bred residents in Alaska

The COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation and a higher cost of living in major cities have combined with opportunities for remote work over the past two years. This combination has fueled a major migration across the country. In the first year of the pandemic, migration out of densely populated, expensive cities like New York and San Francisco was especially notable. Many moved to Sunbelt cities where the weather is warmer and the cost of living significantly lower.

But not everyone who moved in recent years went very far. Analysis of movement out of crowded cities shows that many of those leaving city centers moved into nearby suburbs in the same state, rather than making cross country moves.

Other trends suggest that many people are sticking close to home, remaining in or moving back to the state, or even the town they were born in. Even before the pandemic, the number of younger adults living with their parents was on the rise, mostly due to financial difficulties. This economic hardship was made worse by the pandemic, and resulted in many moving back in with their parents. By the end of 2020, more than half of Americans under the age of 29 were living at home, exceeding the share of young adults living with their parents during the Great Depression.

Apart from the pandemic, many people choose not to leave the state they were raised in, for reasons ranging from wanting to be close to family to not having the resources to leave, to sticking with a lower cost of living.

In order to determine where people stay put, Stacker compiled a list of boroughs with the most born-and-bred residents in Alaska using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Boroughs are ranked by the highest percentage of residents that were born in the state according to 2020 5-year estimates.

#30. Denali Borough

- Population: 2,502
- Born in Alaska: 461 (18.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,712 (68.4% of population)
--- Midwest (20.6%), Northeast (5.4%), South (15.0%), West (27.4%)
- Born in another country: 200 (7.99% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (3.84%), Europe (2.80%), Latin America (0.68%), North America (0.44%), Oceania (0.24%)

#29. Aleutians West Census Area

- Population: 5,708
- Born in Alaska: 1,072 (18.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,948 (34.1% of population)
--- Midwest (4.4%), Northeast (3.2%), South (6.1%), West (20.4%)
- Born in another country: 2,399 (42.03% of population)
--- Africa (1.02%) , Asia (34.22%), Europe (0.81%), Latin America (5.05%), North America (0.16%), Oceania (0.79%)

#28. Skagway

- Population: 1,300
- Born in Alaska: 316 (24.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 818 (62.9% of population)
--- Midwest (12.2%), Northeast (8.4%), South (10.0%), West (32.4%)
- Born in another country: 113 (8.69% of population)
--- Africa (1.85%) , Asia (2.23%), Europe (0.85%), Latin America (2.31%), North America (1.46%), Oceania (0.00%)

#27. Fairbanks North Star Borough

- Population: 98,455
- Born in Alaska: 31,382 (31.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 58,408 (59.3% of population)
--- Midwest (14.7%), Northeast (7.9%), South (16.5%), West (20.2%)
- Born in another country: 4,912 (4.99% of population)
--- Africa (0.20%) , Asia (2.23%), Europe (1.08%), Latin America (0.80%), North America (0.57%), Oceania (0.10%)

#26. Kodiak Island Borough

- Population: 13,383
- Born in Alaska: 4,545 (34.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,713 (42.7% of population)
--- Midwest (7.7%), Northeast (9.2%), South (9.8%), West (16.0%)
- Born in another country: 2,846 (21.27% of population)
--- Africa (0.26%) , Asia (18.51%), Europe (0.27%), Latin America (2.08%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.10%)

#25. Valdez–Cordova Census Area

- Population: 6,495
- Born in Alaska: 2,206 (34.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,644 (56.1% of population)
--- Midwest (10.6%), Northeast (6.7%), South (10.5%), West (28.3%)
- Born in another country: 489 (7.53% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (4.80%), Europe (0.12%), Latin America (2.31%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.28%)

#24. Petersburg Borough

- Population: 3,278
- Born in Alaska: 1,120 (34.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,527 (46.6% of population)
--- Midwest (13.8%), Northeast (2.9%), South (5.4%), West (24.4%)
- Born in another country: 577 (17.60% of population)
--- Africa (0.34%) , Asia (12.08%), Europe (0.34%), Latin America (4.51%), North America (0.27%), Oceania (0.06%)

#23. Sitka

- Population: 8,569
- Born in Alaska: 3,128 (36.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,492 (52.4% of population)
--- Midwest (11.0%), Northeast (7.2%), South (10.7%), West (23.6%)
- Born in another country: 813 (9.49% of population)
--- Africa (0.09%) , Asia (5.67%), Europe (1.04%), Latin America (1.97%), North America (0.68%), Oceania (0.04%)

#22. Kenai Peninsula Borough

- Population: 58,809
- Born in Alaska: 22,512 (38.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 33,784 (57.4% of population)
--- Midwest (14.2%), Northeast (5.8%), South (10.4%), West (27.1%)
- Born in another country: 1,842 (3.13% of population)
--- Africa (0.06%) , Asia (1.22%), Europe (0.86%), Latin America (0.60%), North America (0.30%), Oceania (0.10%)

#21. Anchorage

- Population: 292,090
- Born in Alaska: 112,468 (38.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 138,462 (47.4% of population)
--- Midwest (11.5%), Northeast (5.7%), South (11.7%), West (18.5%)
- Born in another country: 31,654 (10.84% of population)
--- Africa (0.58%) , Asia (5.96%), Europe (1.13%), Latin America (1.97%), North America (0.40%), Oceania (0.80%)

#20. Juneau

- Population: 32,099
- Born in Alaska: 12,738 (39.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 15,981 (49.8% of population)
--- Midwest (10.3%), Northeast (5.3%), South (8.0%), West (26.2%)
- Born in another country: 2,700 (8.41% of population)
--- Africa (0.06%) , Asia (5.18%), Europe (0.61%), Latin America (1.70%), North America (0.24%), Oceania (0.62%)

#19. Southeast Fairbanks Census Area

- Population: 6,911
- Born in Alaska: 2,746 (39.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,404 (49.3% of population)
--- Midwest (10.8%), Northeast (7.4%), South (11.3%), West (19.8%)
- Born in another country: 548 (7.93% of population)
--- Africa (0.16%) , Asia (3.40%), Europe (3.59%), Latin America (0.17%), North America (0.48%), Oceania (0.13%)

#18. Yakutat

- Population: 597
- Born in Alaska: 241 (40.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 283 (47.4% of population)
--- Midwest (3.4%), Northeast (3.9%), South (2.2%), West (38.0%)
- Born in another country: 60 (10.05% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (5.36%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (3.02%), North America (1.68%), Oceania (0.00%)

#17. Matanuska-Susitna Borough

- Population: 107,360
- Born in Alaska: 44,504 (41.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 57,407 (53.5% of population)
--- Midwest (12.7%), Northeast (5.6%), South (10.6%), West (24.5%)
- Born in another country: 3,597 (3.35% of population)
--- Africa (0.05%) , Asia (1.35%), Europe (1.14%), Latin America (0.55%), North America (0.22%), Oceania (0.05%)

#16. Ketchikan Gateway Borough

- Population: 13,833
- Born in Alaska: 5,870 (42.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,534 (47.2% of population)
--- Midwest (9.3%), Northeast (4.1%), South (6.7%), West (27.1%)
- Born in another country: 1,237 (8.94% of population)
--- Africa (0.14%) , Asia (6.64%), Europe (0.72%), Latin America (0.93%), North America (0.38%), Oceania (0.13%)

#15. Wrangell

- Population: 2,510
- Born in Alaska: 1,116 (44.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,296 (51.6% of population)
--- Midwest (9.7%), Northeast (1.8%), South (5.5%), West (34.6%)
- Born in another country: 74 (2.95% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (1.24%), Europe (0.24%), Latin America (0.96%), North America (0.24%), Oceania (0.28%)

#14. Haines Borough

- Population: 2,547
- Born in Alaska: 1,181 (46.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,155 (45.3% of population)
--- Midwest (11.4%), Northeast (6.8%), South (2.7%), West (24.4%)
- Born in another country: 135 (5.30% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (1.65%), Europe (0.31%), Latin America (0.39%), North America (2.79%), Oceania (0.16%)

#13. Aleutians East Borough

- Population: 3,389
- Born in Alaska: 1,595 (47.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 677 (20.0% of population)
--- Midwest (2.2%), Northeast (2.4%), South (3.9%), West (11.5%)
- Born in another country: 941 (27.77% of population)
--- Africa (2.04%) , Asia (18.44%), Europe (1.77%), Latin America (5.31%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.21%)

#12. Bristol Bay Borough

- Population: 739
- Born in Alaska: 351 (47.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 342 (46.3% of population)
--- Midwest (15.2%), Northeast (4.2%), South (10.7%), West (16.2%)
- Born in another country: 27 (3.65% of population)
--- Africa (0.14%) , Asia (2.03%), Europe (0.41%), Latin America (1.08%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#11. Hoonah–Angoon Census Area

- Population: 2,135
- Born in Alaska: 1,106 (51.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 920 (43.1% of population)
--- Midwest (8.5%), Northeast (3.4%), South (6.9%), West (24.2%)
- Born in another country: 98 (4.59% of population)
--- Africa (1.31%) , Asia (1.83%), Europe (0.19%), Latin America (1.26%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#10. Valdez–Cordova Census Area

- Population: 2,894
- Born in Alaska: 1,535 (53.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,307 (45.2% of population)
--- Midwest (16.0%), Northeast (7.0%), South (5.6%), West (16.6%)
- Born in another country: 41 (1.42% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.55%), Europe (0.79%), Latin America (0.03%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.03%)

#9. Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area

- Population: 6,338
- Born in Alaska: 3,403 (53.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,697 (42.6% of population)
--- Midwest (7.6%), Northeast (2.1%), South (3.4%), West (29.5%)
- Born in another country: 191 (3.01% of population)
--- Africa (0.03%) , Asia (1.25%), Europe (0.19%), Latin America (0.28%), North America (0.69%), Oceania (0.57%)

#8. North Slope Borough

- Population: 9,375
- Born in Alaska: 5,871 (62.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,596 (27.7% of population)
--- Midwest (5.4%), Northeast (2.6%), South (6.7%), West (12.9%)
- Born in another country: 659 (7.03% of population)
--- Africa (0.10%) , Asia (4.26%), Europe (0.41%), Latin America (0.92%), North America (0.82%), Oceania (0.53%)

#7. Lake and Peninsula Borough

- Population: 1,156
- Born in Alaska: 750 (64.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 300 (26.0% of population)
--- Midwest (10.6%), Northeast (2.7%), South (1.5%), West (11.2%)
- Born in another country: 98 (8.48% of population)
--- Africa (5.10%) , Asia (1.99%), Europe (0.09%), Latin America (0.35%), North America (0.26%), Oceania (0.69%)

#6. Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area

- Population: 5,305
- Born in Alaska: 4,086 (77.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,134 (21.4% of population)
--- Midwest (5.3%), Northeast (1.8%), South (3.9%), West (10.4%)
- Born in another country: 73 (1.38% of population)
--- Africa (0.02%) , Asia (0.49%), Europe (0.21%), Latin America (0.13%), North America (0.49%), Oceania (0.04%)

#5. Dillingham Census Area

- Population: 4,934
- Born in Alaska: 4,037 (81.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 735 (14.9% of population)
--- Midwest (5.4%), Northeast (0.9%), South (2.2%), West (6.4%)
- Born in another country: 158 (3.20% of population)
--- Africa (1.11%) , Asia (0.16%), Europe (0.08%), Latin America (0.39%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (1.42%)

#4. Nome Census Area

- Population: 10,009
- Born in Alaska: 8,453 (84.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,216 (12.1% of population)
--- Midwest (4.3%), Northeast (1.5%), South (1.9%), West (4.4%)
- Born in another country: 311 (3.11% of population)
--- Africa (0.13%) , Asia (2.19%), Europe (0.41%), Latin America (0.27%), North America (0.09%), Oceania (0.02%)

#3. Northwest Arctic Borough

- Population: 7,709
- Born in Alaska: 6,616 (85.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 928 (12.0% of population)
--- Midwest (4.4%), Northeast (1.1%), South (3.0%), West (3.5%)
- Born in another country: 112 (1.45% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.65%), Europe (0.27%), Latin America (0.48%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.03%)

#2. Bethel Census Area

- Population: 18,263
- Born in Alaska: 16,070 (88.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,789 (9.8% of population)
--- Midwest (2.7%), Northeast (1.7%), South (1.7%), West (3.7%)
- Born in another country: 390 (2.14% of population)
--- Africa (0.22%) , Asia (0.94%), Europe (0.26%), Latin America (0.57%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.15%)

#1. Kusilvak Census Area

- Population: 8,298
- Born in Alaska: 7,955 (95.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 294 (3.5% of population)
--- Midwest (1.0%), Northeast (0.9%), South (0.3%), West (1.3%)
- Born in another country: 47 (0.57% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.16%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.40%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.01%)

Trending Now