Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Illinois
The combination of inflation and increased work-from-home opportunities brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted migration patterns across the United States, the effects of which are still being felt in 2024, according to the latest Census Bureau data.
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 Sun Belt states where the weather is warmer and the cost of living significantly lower.
But by the second year of the pandemic, it became clear that not everyone who was moving wanted to go far. A 2022 analysis of movement out of crowded cities from Stateline showed that many people leaving city centers moved to nearby suburbs in the same state. In Texas, for example, moves out of Houston rose 62% in the first month of the pandemic; meanwhile, the western suburb of Katy saw more new residents move in than any other part of the country.
According to the latest data from the Census Bureau, released in September 2023, 53.5% of people who moved in 2022 did so within the same county and an additional 24.3% remained in state, meaning more than three-quarters of movers stuck close to home.
Many young people in particular are remaining in the state, town, or even house that they grew up in. Before the pandemic, the number of younger adults living with their parents was on the rise and those patterns have continued. A late 2023 survey released by Lending Tree found that 57% of millennials and Gen Zers live in their hometowns.
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 in your home state, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Illinois using data from the Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents who were born in the state according to the latest data, which is 2022 five-year estimates. The percentage of residents who were born in another state, a U.S. territory, and another country is also included.
Read on to find out where the most loyal Illinois residents live.
#50. Jersey County
- Population: 21,462
- Born in Illinois: 16,887 (78.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,328 (20.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 31 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 216 (1.0% of population)
#49. Ogle County
- Population: 51,672
- Born in Illinois: 40,844 (79.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,583 (16.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 354 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,891 (3.7% of population)
#48. Jefferson County
- Population: 37,043
- Born in Illinois: 29,289 (79.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,902 (18.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 237 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 615 (1.7% of population)
#47. Clinton County
- Population: 36,998
- Born in Illinois: 29,265 (79.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,526 (17.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 376 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 831 (2.2% of population)
#46. Knox County
- Population: 49,751
- Born in Illinois: 39,362 (79.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,368 (16.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 361 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,660 (3.3% of population)
#45. Macon County
- Population: 103,542
- Born in Illinois: 82,180 (79.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 18,481 (17.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 300 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,581 (2.5% of population)
#44. Kankakee County
- Population: 107,421
- Born in Illinois: 85,803 (79.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 15,748 (14.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 392 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 5,478 (5.1% of population)
#43. Hamilton County
- Population: 8,008
- Born in Illinois: 6,426 (80.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,474 (18.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 24 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 84 (1.0% of population)
#42. Calhoun County
- Population: 4,472
- Born in Illinois: 3,607 (80.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 840 (18.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 24 (0.5% of population)
#41. Marion County
- Population: 37,543
- Born in Illinois: 30,310 (80.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,585 (17.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 149 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 499 (1.3% of population)
#40. Sangamon County
- Population: 196,122
- Born in Illinois: 158,364 (80.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 30,613 (15.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,239 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 5,906 (3.0% of population)
#39. Coles County
- Population: 47,076
- Born in Illinois: 38,025 (80.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,741 (16.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 308 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,002 (2.1% of population)
#38. Perry County
- Population: 20,996
- Born in Illinois: 16,968 (80.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,661 (17.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 73 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 294 (1.4% of population)
#37. Iroquois County
- Population: 27,043
- Born in Illinois: 21,948 (81.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,992 (14.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 185 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 918 (3.4% of population)
#36. Washington County
- Population: 13,781
- Born in Illinois: 11,272 (81.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,381 (17.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 62 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 66 (0.5% of population)
#35. Bureau County
- Population: 33,203
- Born in Illinois: 27,248 (82.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,696 (14.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 147 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,112 (3.3% of population)
#34. Stark County
- Population: 5,395
- Born in Illinois: 4,447 (82.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 791 (14.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 30 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 127 (2.4% of population)
#33. Grundy County
- Population: 52,624
- Born in Illinois: 43,403 (82.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,809 (12.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 300 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,112 (4.0% of population)
#32. Tazewell County
- Population: 131,276
- Born in Illinois: 108,307 (82.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 20,209 (15.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 593 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,167 (1.7% of population)
#31. Montgomery County
- Population: 28,352
- Born in Illinois: 23,425 (82.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,468 (15.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 141 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 318 (1.1% of population)
#30. Fayette County
- Population: 21,464
- Born in Illinois: 17,741 (82.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,296 (15.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 64 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 363 (1.7% of population)
#29. Lee County
- Population: 34,221
- Born in Illinois: 28,315 (82.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,999 (14.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 135 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 772 (2.3% of population)
#28. Macoupin County
- Population: 44,907
- Born in Illinois: 37,176 (82.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,156 (15.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 113 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 462 (1.0% of population)
#27. Woodford County
- Population: 38,414
- Born in Illinois: 31,849 (82.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,785 (15.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 164 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 616 (1.6% of population)
#26. Piatt County
- Population: 16,698
- Born in Illinois: 13,867 (83.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,624 (15.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 93 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 114 (0.7% of population)
#25. DeWitt County
- Population: 15,535
- Born in Illinois: 12,941 (83.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,300 (14.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 36 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 258 (1.7% of population)
#24. Menard County
- Population: 12,284
- Born in Illinois: 10,238 (83.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,826 (14.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 93 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 127 (1.0% of population)
#23. Vermilion County
- Population: 74,113
- Born in Illinois: 61,785 (83.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 10,393 (14.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 220 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,715 (2.3% of population)
#22. Schuyler County
- Population: 6,879
- Born in Illinois: 5,747 (83.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 997 (14.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 24 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 111 (1.6% of population)
#21. Douglas County
- Population: 19,714
- Born in Illinois: 16,491 (83.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,469 (12.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 103 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 651 (3.3% of population)
#20. LaSalle County
- Population: 109,495
- Born in Illinois: 91,634 (83.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 13,695 (12.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 483 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,683 (3.4% of population)
#19. Franklin County
- Population: 37,810
- Born in Illinois: 31,711 (83.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,680 (15.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 111 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 308 (0.8% of population)
#18. Brown County
- Population: 6,334
- Born in Illinois: 5,313 (83.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 816 (12.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 34 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 171 (2.7% of population)
#17. Logan County
- Population: 28,027
- Born in Illinois: 23,630 (84.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,929 (14.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 112 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 356 (1.3% of population)
#16. Ford County
- Population: 13,484
- Born in Illinois: 11,421 (84.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,785 (13.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 46 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 232 (1.7% of population)
#15. Livingston County
- Population: 35,771
- Born in Illinois: 30,343 (84.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,670 (13.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 144 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 614 (1.7% of population)
#14. Cumberland County
- Population: 10,447
- Born in Illinois: 8,940 (85.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,338 (12.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 17 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 152 (1.5% of population)
#13. Effingham County
- Population: 34,594
- Born in Illinois: 29,654 (85.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,078 (11.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 72 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 790 (2.3% of population)
#12. Moultrie County
- Population: 14,531
- Born in Illinois: 12,465 (85.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,916 (13.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 23 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 127 (0.9% of population)
#11. Marshall County
- Population: 11,740
- Born in Illinois: 10,116 (86.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,441 (12.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 46 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 137 (1.2% of population)
#10. Christian County
- Population: 33,893
- Born in Illinois: 29,242 (86.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,063 (12.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 243 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 345 (1.0% of population)
#9. Scott County
- Population: 4,899
- Born in Illinois: 4,239 (86.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 584 (11.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 34 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 42 (0.9% of population)
#8. Morgan County
- Population: 32,882
- Born in Illinois: 28,561 (86.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,906 (11.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 49 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 366 (1.1% of population)
#7. Greene County
- Population: 12,015
- Born in Illinois: 10,438 (86.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,477 (12.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 61 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 39 (0.3% of population)
#6. Clay County
- Population: 13,248
- Born in Illinois: 11,511 (86.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,586 (12.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 94 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 57 (0.4% of population)
#5. Fulton County
- Population: 33,691
- Born in Illinois: 29,454 (87.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,801 (11.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 80 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 356 (1.1% of population)
#4. Mason County
- Population: 13,074
- Born in Illinois: 11,449 (87.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,515 (11.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 26 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 84 (0.6% of population)
#3. Shelby County
- Population: 21,042
- Born in Illinois: 18,530 (88.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,177 (10.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 92 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 243 (1.2% of population)
#2. Putnam County
- Population: 5,628
- Born in Illinois: 4,980 (88.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 543 (9.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 2 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 103 (1.8% of population)
#1. Jasper County
- Population: 9,295
- Born in Illinois: 8,299 (89.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 889 (9.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 15 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 92 (1.0% of population)
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 49 states.
