Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Minnesota
Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Minnesota
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 counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Minnesota using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents that were born in the state according to 2020 5-year estimates.
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#50. Freeborn County
- Born in Minnesota: 22,669 (74.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,976 (19.6% of population)
--- Midwest (13.2%), Northeast (0.8%), South (3.0%), West (2.6%)
- Born in another country: 1,712 (5.62% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (2.11%), Europe (0.18%), Latin America (3.26%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.00%)
#49. Blue Earth County
- Born in Minnesota: 50,204 (74.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 13,125 (19.5% of population)
--- Midwest (12.1%), Northeast (0.8%), South (2.9%), West (3.6%)
- Born in another country: 3,615 (5.37% of population)
--- Africa (1.73%) , Asia (2.15%), Europe (0.43%), Latin America (0.97%), North America (0.08%), Oceania (0.01%)
#48. Roseau County
- Born in Minnesota: 11,384 (74.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,086 (20.2% of population)
--- Midwest (13.0%), Northeast (0.9%), South (2.0%), West (4.2%)
- Born in another country: 642 (4.21% of population)
--- Africa (0.20%) , Asia (2.00%), Europe (0.32%), Latin America (0.12%), North America (1.56%), Oceania (0.01%)
#47. Murray County
- Born in Minnesota: 6,164 (74.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,794 (21.8% of population)
--- Midwest (16.2%), Northeast (0.8%), South (1.7%), West (3.1%)
- Born in another country: 257 (3.12% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (1.07%), Europe (0.29%), Latin America (1.67%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.06%)
#46. Kandiyohi County
- Born in Minnesota: 32,310 (75.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,009 (16.3% of population)
--- Midwest (9.3%), Northeast (0.6%), South (3.6%), West (2.8%)
- Born in another country: 3,389 (7.90% of population)
--- Africa (2.20%) , Asia (0.98%), Europe (0.33%), Latin America (3.88%), North America (0.48%), Oceania (0.03%)
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#45. Big Stone County
- Born in Minnesota: 3,759 (75.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,152 (23.2% of population)
--- Midwest (18.0%), Northeast (0.6%), South (2.3%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 58 (1.17% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.12%), Latin America (0.92%), North America (0.12%), Oceania (0.00%)
#44. Martin County
- Born in Minnesota: 14,932 (75.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,442 (22.5% of population)
--- Midwest (15.3%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.9%), West (3.2%)
- Born in another country: 305 (1.55% of population)
--- Africa (0.13%) , Asia (0.27%), Europe (0.37%), Latin America (0.72%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.01%)
#43. Goodhue County
- Born in Minnesota: 35,127 (75.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 9,831 (21.2% of population)
--- Midwest (13.4%), Northeast (1.7%), South (2.3%), West (3.8%)
- Born in another country: 1,192 (2.57% of population)
--- Africa (0.27%) , Asia (0.48%), Europe (0.33%), Latin America (1.37%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.05%)
#42. Steele County
- Born in Minnesota: 27,994 (76.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,884 (18.8% of population)
--- Midwest (12.7%), Northeast (1.1%), South (2.6%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 1,707 (4.65% of population)
--- Africa (1.15%) , Asia (0.66%), Europe (0.32%), Latin America (2.35%), North America (0.17%), Oceania (0.00%)
#41. Beltrami County
- Born in Minnesota: 35,762 (76.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 9,881 (21.1% of population)
--- Midwest (13.1%), Northeast (0.9%), South (2.3%), West (4.8%)
- Born in another country: 792 (1.69% of population)
--- Africa (0.30%) , Asia (0.57%), Europe (0.25%), Latin America (0.29%), North America (0.24%), Oceania (0.04%)
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#40. Lac qui Parle County
- Born in Minnesota: 5,091 (76.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,386 (20.9% of population)
--- Midwest (16.0%), Northeast (0.6%), South (1.8%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 155 (2.33% of population)
--- Africa (0.23%) , Asia (0.89%), Europe (0.50%), Latin America (0.60%), North America (0.12%), Oceania (0.00%)
#39. Nicollet County
- Born in Minnesota: 26,258 (76.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,248 (18.3% of population)
--- Midwest (12.2%), Northeast (0.9%), South (2.3%), West (2.9%)
- Born in another country: 1,447 (4.23% of population)
--- Africa (0.61%) , Asia (1.68%), Europe (0.29%), Latin America (1.50%), North America (0.08%), Oceania (0.07%)
#38. St. Louis County
- Born in Minnesota: 153,395 (76.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 40,390 (20.2% of population)
--- Midwest (11.9%), Northeast (1.7%), South (3.0%), West (3.7%)
- Born in another country: 4,562 (2.29% of population)
--- Africa (0.35%) , Asia (0.71%), Europe (0.58%), Latin America (0.35%), North America (0.25%), Oceania (0.05%)
#37. Wabasha County
- Born in Minnesota: 16,608 (77.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,421 (20.5% of population)
--- Midwest (14.2%), Northeast (1.4%), South (2.4%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 383 (1.78% of population)
--- Africa (0.02%) , Asia (0.41%), Europe (0.34%), Latin America (1.01%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#36. Todd County
- Born in Minnesota: 19,028 (77.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,539 (18.4% of population)
--- Midwest (12.0%), Northeast (1.3%), South (2.1%), West (3.0%)
- Born in another country: 788 (3.20% of population)
--- Africa (0.15%) , Asia (0.55%), Europe (0.22%), Latin America (2.05%), North America (0.21%), Oceania (0.02%)
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#35. Dodge County
- Born in Minnesota: 16,115 (77.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,968 (19.1% of population)
--- Midwest (13.1%), Northeast (1.1%), South (2.3%), West (2.6%)
- Born in another country: 670 (3.22% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.69%), Europe (0.24%), Latin America (1.64%), North America (0.64%), Oceania (0.00%)
#34. Chippewa County
- Born in Minnesota: 9,212 (77.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,868 (15.7% of population)
--- Midwest (10.5%), Northeast (0.7%), South (1.6%), West (3.0%)
- Born in another country: 754 (6.35% of population)
--- Africa (0.19%) , Asia (0.96%), Europe (0.24%), Latin America (3.98%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.96%)
#33. Faribault County
- Born in Minnesota: 10,726 (78.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,664 (19.4% of population)
--- Midwest (13.1%), Northeast (0.8%), South (3.3%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 274 (2.00% of population)
--- Africa (0.05%) , Asia (0.27%), Europe (0.15%), Latin America (1.47%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.00%)
#32. Cass County
- Born in Minnesota: 23,027 (78.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,000 (20.4% of population)
--- Midwest (13.7%), Northeast (1.1%), South (2.0%), West (3.6%)
- Born in another country: 314 (1.07% of population)
--- Africa (0.02%) , Asia (0.43%), Europe (0.35%), Latin America (0.13%), North America (0.14%), Oceania (0.00%)
#31. Waseca County
- Born in Minnesota: 14,587 (78.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,403 (18.2% of population)
--- Midwest (10.5%), Northeast (1.7%), South (3.2%), West (2.9%)
- Born in another country: 613 (3.29% of population)
--- Africa (0.06%) , Asia (0.73%), Europe (0.44%), Latin America (2.03%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#30. Stearns County
- Born in Minnesota: 125,225 (78.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 23,473 (14.7% of population)
--- Midwest (8.6%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.4%), West (2.6%)
- Born in another country: 10,039 (6.28% of population)
--- Africa (3.58%) , Asia (1.40%), Europe (0.27%), Latin America (0.96%), North America (0.07%), Oceania (0.01%)
#29. Chisago County
- Born in Minnesota: 43,832 (78.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 10,596 (19.0% of population)
--- Midwest (13.5%), Northeast (1.2%), South (1.7%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 1,169 (2.09% of population)
--- Africa (0.09%) , Asia (0.83%), Europe (0.13%), Latin America (0.51%), North America (0.53%), Oceania (0.00%)
#28. Pine County
- Born in Minnesota: 23,056 (78.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,692 (19.5% of population)
--- Midwest (11.8%), Northeast (1.3%), South (3.1%), West (3.3%)
- Born in another country: 366 (1.25% of population)
--- Africa (0.02%) , Asia (0.45%), Europe (0.35%), Latin America (0.39%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (0.00%)
#27. Aitkin County
- Born in Minnesota: 12,526 (79.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,063 (19.4% of population)
--- Midwest (11.8%), Northeast (1.6%), South (1.9%), West (4.1%)
- Born in another country: 160 (1.01% of population)
--- Africa (0.03%) , Asia (0.20%), Europe (0.38%), Latin America (0.29%), North America (0.12%), Oceania (0.00%)
#26. Wright County
- Born in Minnesota: 108,034 (79.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 23,352 (17.1% of population)
--- Midwest (10.3%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.5%), West (3.3%)
- Born in another country: 3,853 (2.83% of population)
--- Africa (0.38%) , Asia (0.89%), Europe (0.47%), Latin America (0.93%), North America (0.14%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#25. Wadena County
- Born in Minnesota: 10,841 (79.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,550 (18.6% of population)
--- Midwest (11.0%), Northeast (0.8%), South (2.0%), West (4.9%)
- Born in another country: 244 (1.78% of population)
--- Africa (0.99%) , Asia (0.27%), Europe (0.10%), Latin America (0.40%), North America (0.01%), Oceania (0.00%)
#24. Clearwater County
- Born in Minnesota: 7,039 (79.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,703 (19.2% of population)
--- Midwest (11.5%), Northeast (0.7%), South (2.3%), West (4.7%)
- Born in another country: 96 (1.08% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.38%), Europe (0.14%), Latin America (0.09%), North America (0.47%), Oceania (0.00%)
#23. Itasca County
- Born in Minnesota: 35,881 (79.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,668 (19.2% of population)
--- Midwest (12.3%), Northeast (1.4%), South (2.0%), West (3.6%)
- Born in another country: 440 (0.97% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.31%), Europe (0.29%), Latin America (0.20%), North America (0.14%), Oceania (0.02%)
#22. Red Lake County
- Born in Minnesota: 3,184 (79.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 794 (19.8% of population)
--- Midwest (14.0%), Northeast (0.6%), South (2.0%), West (3.2%)
- Born in another country: 25 (0.62% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.17%), Latin America (0.27%), North America (0.17%), Oceania (0.00%)
#21. Crow Wing County
- Born in Minnesota: 51,578 (79.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 12,015 (18.5% of population)
--- Midwest (11.4%), Northeast (0.9%), South (2.2%), West (4.0%)
- Born in another country: 815 (1.26% of population)
--- Africa (0.21%) , Asia (0.39%), Europe (0.23%), Latin America (0.20%), North America (0.19%), Oceania (0.04%)
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#20. Sherburne County
- Born in Minnesota: 76,678 (79.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 15,389 (16.0% of population)
--- Midwest (9.6%), Northeast (1.2%), South (1.9%), West (3.3%)
- Born in another country: 3,424 (3.57% of population)
--- Africa (1.26%) , Asia (0.85%), Europe (0.62%), Latin America (0.72%), North America (0.11%), Oceania (0.01%)
#19. Brown County
- Born in Minnesota: 20,128 (80.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,286 (17.1% of population)
--- Midwest (11.1%), Northeast (0.6%), South (3.0%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 632 (2.52% of population)
--- Africa (0.09%) , Asia (0.55%), Europe (0.47%), Latin America (1.40%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#18. Benton County
- Born in Minnesota: 32,660 (80.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,873 (14.5% of population)
--- Midwest (8.5%), Northeast (0.5%), South (2.4%), West (3.1%)
- Born in another country: 1,681 (4.15% of population)
--- Africa (1.70%) , Asia (1.11%), Europe (0.34%), Latin America (0.94%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.00%)
#17. Douglas County
- Born in Minnesota: 30,576 (80.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,743 (17.8% of population)
--- Midwest (12.7%), Northeast (0.9%), South (2.2%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 435 (1.15% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.25%), Europe (0.33%), Latin America (0.24%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.30%)
#16. Yellow Medicine County
- Born in Minnesota: 7,913 (81.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,616 (16.5% of population)
--- Midwest (11.7%), Northeast (0.8%), South (1.7%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 211 (2.16% of population)
--- Africa (0.12%) , Asia (0.49%), Europe (0.12%), Latin America (1.42%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#15. Mahnomen County
- Born in Minnesota: 4,460 (81.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,008 (18.3% of population)
--- Midwest (12.6%), Northeast (0.6%), South (2.1%), West (3.0%)
- Born in another country: 36 (0.65% of population)
--- Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.25%), Europe (0.20%), Latin America (0.11%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)
#14. Isanti County
- Born in Minnesota: 32,514 (81.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,246 (15.6% of population)
--- Midwest (9.5%), Northeast (1.1%), South (1.9%), West (3.1%)
- Born in another country: 858 (2.14% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.86%), Europe (0.50%), Latin America (0.70%), North America (0.07%), Oceania (0.00%)
#13. Kanabec County
- Born in Minnesota: 13,219 (81.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,759 (17.0% of population)
--- Midwest (11.1%), Northeast (0.9%), South (2.0%), West (3.1%)
- Born in another country: 176 (1.09% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.67%), Europe (0.17%), Latin America (0.12%), North America (0.12%), Oceania (0.00%)
#12. Carlton County
- Born in Minnesota: 29,156 (81.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,829 (16.3% of population)
--- Midwest (9.5%), Northeast (1.3%), South (2.3%), West (3.3%)
- Born in another country: 511 (1.43% of population)
--- Africa (0.26%) , Asia (0.41%), Europe (0.23%), Latin America (0.34%), North America (0.19%), Oceania (0.00%)
#11. Le Sueur County
- Born in Minnesota: 23,333 (82.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,393 (15.5% of population)
--- Midwest (9.0%), Northeast (1.0%), South (3.0%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 632 (2.22% of population)
--- Africa (0.05%) , Asia (0.33%), Europe (0.08%), Latin America (1.65%), North America (0.11%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#10. Mille Lacs County
- Born in Minnesota: 21,316 (82.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,176 (16.1% of population)
--- Midwest (9.6%), Northeast (1.1%), South (2.2%), West (3.2%)
- Born in another country: 344 (1.32% of population)
--- Africa (0.03%) , Asia (0.31%), Europe (0.41%), Latin America (0.45%), North America (0.10%), Oceania (0.03%)
#9. Grant County
- Born in Minnesota: 4,912 (82.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 983 (16.5% of population)
--- Midwest (10.3%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.0%), West (3.2%)
- Born in another country: 55 (0.92% of population)
--- Africa (0.03%) , Asia (0.02%), Europe (0.45%), Latin America (0.30%), North America (0.12%), Oceania (0.00%)
#8. Sibley County
- Born in Minnesota: 12,336 (83.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,789 (12.0% of population)
--- Midwest (6.8%), Northeast (0.9%), South (2.5%), West (1.9%)
- Born in another country: 726 (4.88% of population)
--- Africa (0.40%) , Asia (0.33%), Europe (0.38%), Latin America (3.71%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)
#7. McLeod County
- Born in Minnesota: 29,699 (83.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,855 (13.6% of population)
--- Midwest (7.9%), Northeast (0.7%), South (2.5%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 1,107 (3.09% of population)
--- Africa (0.26%) , Asia (0.65%), Europe (0.36%), Latin America (1.67%), North America (0.15%), Oceania (0.01%)
#6. Renville County
- Born in Minnesota: 12,134 (83.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,984 (13.6% of population)
--- Midwest (6.7%), Northeast (0.5%), South (4.4%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 425 (2.92% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.54%), Europe (0.48%), Latin America (1.88%), North America (0.01%), Oceania (0.01%)
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#5. Pope County
- Born in Minnesota: 9,258 (83.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,669 (15.0% of population)
--- Midwest (9.4%), Northeast (1.0%), South (1.8%), West (2.8%)
- Born in another country: 165 (1.49% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.82%), Europe (0.30%), Latin America (0.36%), North America (0.01%), Oceania (0.00%)
#4. Swift County
- Born in Minnesota: 7,806 (83.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,194 (12.8% of population)
--- Midwest (7.6%), Northeast (0.7%), South (1.7%), West (2.8%)
- Born in another country: 296 (3.17% of population)
--- Africa (0.27%) , Asia (0.24%), Europe (0.12%), Latin America (1.87%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.63%)
#3. Redwood County
- Born in Minnesota: 12,753 (83.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,016 (13.3% of population)
--- Midwest (7.5%), Northeast (0.6%), South (1.9%), West (3.3%)
- Born in another country: 381 (2.51% of population)
--- Africa (0.11%) , Asia (1.89%), Europe (0.13%), Latin America (0.15%), North America (0.22%), Oceania (0.00%)
#2. Meeker County
- Born in Minnesota: 19,461 (84.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,318 (14.3% of population)
--- Midwest (8.8%), Northeast (0.7%), South (1.9%), West (3.0%)
- Born in another country: 345 (1.49% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.17%), Europe (0.12%), Latin America (1.12%), North America (0.07%), Oceania (0.00%)
#1. Morrison County
- Born in Minnesota: 28,739 (86.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,837 (11.6% of population)
--- Midwest (6.8%), Northeast (1.0%), South (1.5%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 442 (1.33% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.33%), Europe (0.27%), Latin America (0.66%), North America (0.08%), Oceania (0.00%)
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