Parishes with the most born-and-bred residents in Louisiana
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 parishes with the most born-and-bred residents in Louisiana using data from the Census Bureau. Parishes 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 Louisiana residents live.
#50. Caddo Parish
- Population: 236,259
- Born in Louisiana: 181,388 (76.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 48,579 (20.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,072 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 5,220 (2.2% of population)
#49. Union Parish
- Population: 21,049
- Born in Louisiana: 16,253 (77.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,270 (20.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 87 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 439 (2.1% of population)
#48. Livingston Parish
- Population: 143,425
- Born in Louisiana: 111,759 (77.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 27,238 (19.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 536 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,892 (2.7% of population)
#47. Calcasieu Parish
- Population: 210,770
- Born in Louisiana: 165,899 (78.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 37,028 (17.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,387 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 6,456 (3.1% of population)
#46. Grant Parish
- Population: 22,185
- Born in Louisiana: 17,512 (78.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,937 (17.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 86 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 650 (2.9% of population)
#45. Ouachita Parish
- Population: 159,585
- Born in Louisiana: 126,413 (79.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 29,110 (18.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,012 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,050 (1.9% of population)
#44. East Carroll Parish
- Population: 7,371
- Born in Louisiana: 5,848 (79.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,497 (20.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 10 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 16 (0.2% of population)
#43. Sabine Parish
- Population: 22,209
- Born in Louisiana: 17,716 (79.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,198 (18.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 76 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 219 (1.0% of population)
#42. Washington Parish
- Population: 45,514
- Born in Louisiana: 36,390 (80.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,654 (19.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 247 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 223 (0.5% of population)
#41. Ascension Parish
- Population: 126,973
- Born in Louisiana: 101,724 (80.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 19,908 (15.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 618 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 4,723 (3.7% of population)
#40. Tangipahoa Parish
- Population: 133,953
- Born in Louisiana: 107,646 (80.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 22,632 (16.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,052 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,623 (2.0% of population)
#39. St. Charles Parish
- Population: 52,191
- Born in Louisiana: 41,970 (80.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,751 (14.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 273 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,197 (4.2% of population)
#38. Natchitoches Parish
- Population: 37,478
- Born in Louisiana: 30,201 (80.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,573 (17.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 223 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 481 (1.3% of population)
#37. Webster Parish
- Population: 36,761
- Born in Louisiana: 29,626 (80.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,623 (18.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 146 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 366 (1.0% of population)
#36. Rapides Parish
- Population: 129,536
- Born in Louisiana: 104,441 (80.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 20,884 (16.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 866 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,345 (2.6% of population)
#35. West Feliciana Parish
- Population: 15,358
- Born in Louisiana: 12,409 (80.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,645 (17.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 15 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 289 (1.9% of population)
#34. De Soto Parish
- Population: 26,821
- Born in Louisiana: 21,700 (80.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,798 (17.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 162 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 161 (0.6% of population)
#33. Lafayette Parish
- Population: 243,175
- Born in Louisiana: 198,151 (81.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 32,213 (13.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,573 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 11,238 (4.6% of population)
#32. Allen Parish
- Population: 22,798
- Born in Louisiana: 18,597 (81.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,620 (11.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 97 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,484 (6.5% of population)
#31. Jackson Parish
- Population: 15,093
- Born in Louisiana: 12,362 (81.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,458 (16.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 9 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 264 (1.7% of population)
#30. St. John the Baptist Parish
- Population: 41,986
- Born in Louisiana: 34,460 (82.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,870 (11.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 573 (1.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,083 (5.0% of population)
#29. Richland Parish
- Population: 20,028
- Born in Louisiana: 16,443 (82.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,264 (16.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 105 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 216 (1.1% of population)
#28. Claiborne Parish
- Population: 14,203
- Born in Louisiana: 11,686 (82.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,334 (16.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 78 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 105 (0.7% of population)
#27. East Feliciana Parish
- Population: 19,452
- Born in Louisiana: 16,018 (82.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,179 (16.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 98 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 157 (0.8% of population)
#26. Caldwell Parish
- Population: 9,658
- Born in Louisiana: 8,052 (83.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,533 (15.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 54 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 19 (0.2% of population)
#25. Morehouse Parish
- Population: 25,438
- Born in Louisiana: 21,231 (83.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,885 (15.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 70 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 252 (1.0% of population)
#24. St. Bernard Parish
- Population: 44,038
- Born in Louisiana: 36,888 (83.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,147 (11.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 166 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,837 (4.2% of population)
#23. St. Mary Parish
- Population: 49,114
- Born in Louisiana: 41,403 (84.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,393 (11.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 114 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,204 (4.5% of population)
#22. LaSalle Parish
- Population: 14,764
- Born in Louisiana: 12,473 (84.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,000 (13.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 95 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 196 (1.3% of population)
#21. Cameron Parish
- Population: 5,447
- Born in Louisiana: 4,611 (84.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 637 (11.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 29 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 170 (3.1% of population)
#20. St. Helena Parish
- Population: 10,872
- Born in Louisiana: 9,256 (85.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,392 (12.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 224 (2.1% of population)
#19. Franklin Parish
- Population: 19,752
- Born in Louisiana: 16,900 (85.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,789 (14.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 60 (0.3% of population)
#18. Terrebonne Parish
- Population: 108,862
- Born in Louisiana: 93,343 (85.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 12,183 (11.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 859 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,477 (2.3% of population)
#17. Bienville Parish
- Population: 12,958
- Born in Louisiana: 11,212 (86.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,560 (12.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 40 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 146 (1.1% of population)
#16. Red River Parish
- Population: 7,631
- Born in Louisiana: 6,613 (86.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 955 (12.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 31 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 32 (0.4% of population)
#15. Vermilion Parish
- Population: 57,202
- Born in Louisiana: 49,788 (87.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,917 (10.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 159 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,338 (2.3% of population)
#14. Winn Parish
- Population: 13,665
- Born in Louisiana: 11,938 (87.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,392 (10.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 18 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 317 (2.3% of population)
#13. Lafourche Parish
- Population: 97,220
- Born in Louisiana: 85,694 (88.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,784 (9.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 564 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,178 (2.2% of population)
#12. Pointe Coupee Parish
- Population: 20,652
- Born in Louisiana: 18,210 (88.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,993 (9.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 105 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 344 (1.7% of population)
#11. Iberia Parish
- Population: 69,958
- Born in Louisiana: 61,723 (88.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,914 (8.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 254 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,067 (3.0% of population)
#10. West Baton Rouge Parish
- Population: 27,377
- Born in Louisiana: 24,183 (88.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,417 (8.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 254 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 523 (1.9% of population)
#9. Iberville Parish
- Population: 30,210
- Born in Louisiana: 26,823 (88.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,624 (8.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 144 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 619 (2.0% of population)
#8. Avoyelles Parish
- Population: 39,529
- Born in Louisiana: 35,172 (89.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,811 (9.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 49 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 497 (1.3% of population)
#7. Jefferson Davis Parish
- Population: 32,277
- Born in Louisiana: 28,771 (89.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,212 (10.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 64 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 230 (0.7% of population)
#6. Evangeline Parish
- Population: 32,335
- Born in Louisiana: 28,887 (89.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,302 (7.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 59 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,087 (3.4% of population)
#5. St. Martin Parish
- Population: 51,856
- Born in Louisiana: 46,514 (89.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,276 (8.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 67 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 999 (1.9% of population)
#4. Acadia Parish
- Population: 57,674
- Born in Louisiana: 52,509 (91.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,609 (8.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 167 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 389 (0.7% of population)
#3. Assumption Parish
- Population: 21,067
- Born in Louisiana: 19,312 (91.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,430 (6.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 36 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 289 (1.4% of population)
#2. St. James Parish
- Population: 20,090
- Born in Louisiana: 18,497 (92.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,213 (6.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 29 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 351 (1.7% of population)
#1. St. Landry Parish
- Population: 82,574
- Born in Louisiana: 76,078 (92.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,932 (6.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 291 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,273 (1.5% of population)
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 49 states.
