Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Mississippi
Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Mississippi
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 Mississippi 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. Yazoo County
- Born in Mississippi: 22,178 (77.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,972 (17.4% of population)
--- Midwest (3.7%), Northeast (0.9%), South (11.2%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 969 (3.40% of population)
--- Africa (0.11%) , Asia (0.02%), Europe (0.16%), Latin America (3.10%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#49. Itawamba County
- Born in Mississippi: 18,218 (77.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,157 (22.0% of population)
--- Midwest (6.2%), Northeast (1.0%), South (13.9%), West (0.9%)
- Born in another country: 14 (0.06% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.03%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.00%)
#48. Wilkinson County
- Born in Mississippi: 6,828 (78.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,844 (21.1% of population)
--- Midwest (1.8%), Northeast (0.0%), South (17.9%), West (1.4%)
- Born in another country: 0 (0.00% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.00%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#47. Warren County
- Born in Mississippi: 36,718 (79.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,191 (17.8% of population)
--- Midwest (3.0%), Northeast (1.6%), South (11.5%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 981 (2.13% of population)
--- Africa (0.23%) , Asia (0.67%), Europe (0.52%), Latin America (0.65%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (0.02%)
#46. Lawrence County
- Born in Mississippi: 10,094 (80.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,372 (18.8% of population)
--- Midwest (3.1%), Northeast (0.6%), South (14.3%), West (0.8%)
- Born in another country: 75 (0.60% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.09%), Europe (0.23%), Latin America (0.28%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#45. Marion County
- Born in Mississippi: 19,970 (80.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,435 (17.9% of population)
--- Midwest (2.6%), Northeast (0.9%), South (12.9%), West (1.5%)
- Born in another country: 319 (1.29% of population)
--- Africa (0.03%) , Asia (0.40%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.86%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#44. Scott County
- Born in Mississippi: 22,808 (80.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,393 (12.0% of population)
--- Midwest (3.0%), Northeast (0.6%), South (6.1%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 1,647 (5.82% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.26%), Europe (0.02%), Latin America (5.49%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.00%)
#43. Walthall County
- Born in Mississippi: 11,630 (80.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,623 (18.2% of population)
--- Midwest (2.4%), Northeast (0.1%), South (14.7%), West (0.9%)
- Born in another country: 163 (1.13% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.06%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (1.07%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#42. Tallahatchie County
- Born in Mississippi: 11,444 (81.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,203 (15.7% of population)
--- Midwest (3.6%), Northeast (0.6%), South (5.5%), West (5.9%)
- Born in another country: 282 (2.01% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.26%), Europe (0.15%), Latin America (1.60%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#41. Perry County
- Born in Mississippi: 9,803 (81.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,902 (15.9% of population)
--- Midwest (1.6%), Northeast (0.5%), South (13.2%), West (0.6%)
- Born in another country: 247 (2.06% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (1.49%), Europe (0.46%), Latin America (0.11%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#40. Clarke County
- Born in Mississippi: 12,807 (82.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,713 (17.4% of population)
--- Midwest (4.5%), Northeast (0.7%), South (10.9%), West (1.3%)
- Born in another country: 58 (0.37% of population)
--- Africa (0.13%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.07%), Latin America (0.08%), North America (0.10%), Oceania (0.00%)
#39. Lincoln County
- Born in Mississippi: 28,073 (82.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,728 (16.8% of population)
--- Midwest (2.9%), Northeast (0.5%), South (12.7%), West (0.6%)
- Born in another country: 283 (0.83% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.45%), Europe (0.10%), Latin America (0.22%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.00%)
#38. Grenada County
- Born in Mississippi: 17,243 (82.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,476 (16.6% of population)
--- Midwest (3.2%), Northeast (0.8%), South (10.5%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 143 (0.68% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.50%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.18%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#37. Kemper County
- Born in Mississippi: 8,127 (82.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,666 (16.9% of population)
--- Midwest (2.1%), Northeast (0.5%), South (13.2%), West (1.2%)
- Born in another country: 15 (0.15% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.07%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.08%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#36. Hinds County
- Born in Mississippi: 194,974 (82.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 36,038 (15.3% of population)
--- Midwest (4.3%), Northeast (0.9%), South (8.6%), West (1.5%)
- Born in another country: 3,668 (1.56% of population)
--- Africa (0.18%) , Asia (0.64%), Europe (0.10%), Latin America (0.61%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#35. Monroe County
- Born in Mississippi: 29,487 (82.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,687 (16.0% of population)
--- Midwest (3.9%), Northeast (1.1%), South (10.4%), West (0.6%)
- Born in another country: 354 (1.00% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.31%), Europe (0.03%), Latin America (0.62%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.01%)
#34. Wayne County
- Born in Mississippi: 16,880 (83.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,019 (14.8% of population)
--- Midwest (1.0%), Northeast (0.1%), South (12.7%), West (1.0%)
- Born in another country: 396 (1.95% of population)
--- Africa (0.06%) , Asia (0.22%), Europe (0.16%), Latin America (1.51%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#33. Leake County
- Born in Mississippi: 19,025 (83.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,250 (14.3% of population)
--- Midwest (3.8%), Northeast (0.3%), South (8.3%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 386 (1.69% of population)
--- Africa (0.03%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (1.66%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#32. Jones County
- Born in Mississippi: 57,026 (83.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 9,359 (13.7% of population)
--- Midwest (1.7%), Northeast (1.1%), South (9.6%), West (1.3%)
- Born in another country: 1,637 (2.40% of population)
--- Africa (0.11%) , Asia (0.38%), Europe (0.08%), Latin America (1.78%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)
#31. Bolivar County
- Born in Mississippi: 26,175 (83.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,359 (13.9% of population)
--- Midwest (3.1%), Northeast (0.6%), South (9.2%), West (1.2%)
- Born in another country: 623 (1.99% of population)
--- Africa (0.17%) , Asia (0.50%), Europe (0.28%), Latin America (1.00%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.03%)
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#30. Newton County
- Born in Mississippi: 17,873 (84.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,024 (14.3% of population)
--- Midwest (4.4%), Northeast (0.9%), South (8.2%), West (0.8%)
- Born in another country: 279 (1.32% of population)
--- Africa (0.03%) , Asia (0.20%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (1.05%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.00%)
#29. Clay County
- Born in Mississippi: 16,444 (84.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,861 (14.7% of population)
--- Midwest (5.8%), Northeast (0.8%), South (7.1%), West (0.9%)
- Born in another country: 154 (0.79% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.54%), Europe (0.21%), Latin America (0.00%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.04%)
#28. Simpson County
- Born in Mississippi: 22,795 (85.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,724 (13.9% of population)
--- Midwest (1.8%), Northeast (1.2%), South (9.1%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 184 (0.69% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.41%), Europe (0.16%), Latin America (0.08%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (0.00%)
#27. Noxubee County
- Born in Mississippi: 8,983 (85.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,380 (13.1% of population)
--- Midwest (4.1%), Northeast (0.2%), South (7.7%), West (1.0%)
- Born in another country: 138 (1.31% of population)
--- Africa (0.55%) , Asia (0.10%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.55%), North America (0.10%), Oceania (0.00%)
#26. Jefferson County
- Born in Mississippi: 6,076 (85.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 852 (12.0% of population)
--- Midwest (2.8%), Northeast (0.5%), South (6.6%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 111 (1.56% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.58%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.98%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#25. Calhoun County
- Born in Mississippi: 12,351 (85.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,580 (11.0% of population)
--- Midwest (2.7%), Northeast (1.1%), South (5.9%), West (1.2%)
- Born in another country: 481 (3.34% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.31%), Europe (0.06%), Latin America (2.98%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#24. Attala County
- Born in Mississippi: 15,687 (85.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,464 (13.5% of population)
--- Midwest (4.1%), Northeast (0.8%), South (8.0%), West (0.6%)
- Born in another country: 152 (0.83% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.15%), Europe (0.03%), Latin America (0.66%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#23. Washington County
- Born in Mississippi: 38,668 (85.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,889 (13.1% of population)
--- Midwest (3.2%), Northeast (0.6%), South (8.1%), West (1.2%)
- Born in another country: 444 (0.99% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.07%), Europe (0.49%), Latin America (0.40%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.00%)
#22. Jefferson Davis County
- Born in Mississippi: 9,600 (85.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,510 (13.5% of population)
--- Midwest (2.2%), Northeast (1.0%), South (8.5%), West (1.9%)
- Born in another country: 56 (0.50% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.15%), Europe (0.24%), Latin America (0.11%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#21. Chickasaw County
- Born in Mississippi: 14,706 (86.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,044 (12.0% of population)
--- Midwest (3.1%), Northeast (0.6%), South (7.3%), West (0.9%)
- Born in another country: 277 (1.62% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.08%), Europe (0.09%), Latin America (1.45%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#20. Montgomery County
- Born in Mississippi: 8,583 (86.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,294 (13.0% of population)
--- Midwest (4.1%), Northeast (0.6%), South (8.0%), West (0.3%)
- Born in another country: 76 (0.76% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.76%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#19. Choctaw County
- Born in Mississippi: 7,083 (86.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,100 (13.4% of population)
--- Midwest (4.4%), Northeast (1.1%), South (7.2%), West (0.7%)
- Born in another country: 7 (0.09% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.05%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.04%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#18. Coahoma County
- Born in Mississippi: 19,581 (86.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,960 (13.0% of population)
--- Midwest (3.6%), Northeast (0.5%), South (8.1%), West (0.9%)
- Born in another country: 115 (0.51% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.21%), Europe (0.05%), Latin America (0.25%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#17. Issaquena County
- Born in Mississippi: 1,057 (86.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 166 (13.6% of population)
--- Midwest (4.3%), Northeast (0.8%), South (8.5%), West (0.0%)
- Born in another country: 0 (0.00% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.00%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#16. Winston County
- Born in Mississippi: 15,716 (86.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,294 (12.7% of population)
--- Midwest (3.0%), Northeast (1.6%), South (6.8%), West (1.3%)
- Born in another country: 99 (0.55% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.03%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.51%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#15. Neshoba County
- Born in Mississippi: 25,478 (87.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,165 (10.8% of population)
--- Midwest (2.4%), Northeast (0.4%), South (6.2%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 512 (1.75% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.27%), Europe (0.31%), Latin America (1.11%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)
#14. Franklin County
- Born in Mississippi: 6,736 (87.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 931 (12.1% of population)
--- Midwest (1.7%), Northeast (1.3%), South (8.2%), West (0.8%)
- Born in another country: 46 (0.60% of population)
--- Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.49%), Europe (0.05%), Latin America (0.01%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#13. Jasper County
- Born in Mississippi: 14,374 (87.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,036 (12.4% of population)
--- Midwest (2.8%), Northeast (0.4%), South (8.4%), West (0.8%)
- Born in another country: 36 (0.22% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.06%), Europe (0.09%), Latin America (0.00%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)
#12. Quitman County
- Born in Mississippi: 6,150 (87.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 859 (12.2% of population)
--- Midwest (3.4%), Northeast (0.3%), South (8.0%), West (0.6%)
- Born in another country: 21 (0.30% of population)
--- Africa (0.10%) , Asia (0.13%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.07%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#11. Covington County
- Born in Mississippi: 16,444 (87.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,147 (11.4% of population)
--- Midwest (0.8%), Northeast (0.8%), South (8.5%), West (1.3%)
- Born in another country: 162 (0.86% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.06%), Latin America (0.79%), North America (0.01%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#10. Copiah County
- Born in Mississippi: 24,816 (87.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,112 (11.0% of population)
--- Midwest (2.9%), Northeast (0.3%), South (5.3%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 346 (1.22% of population)
--- Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.10%), Europe (0.08%), Latin America (1.00%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#9. Webster County
- Born in Mississippi: 8,529 (87.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,155 (11.9% of population)
--- Midwest (2.1%), Northeast (0.2%), South (8.9%), West (0.6%)
- Born in another country: 43 (0.44% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.27%), Europe (0.03%), Latin America (0.14%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#8. Smith County
- Born in Mississippi: 13,990 (87.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,713 (10.8% of population)
--- Midwest (1.7%), Northeast (0.9%), South (6.8%), West (1.3%)
- Born in another country: 178 (1.12% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.55%), Europe (0.11%), Latin America (0.20%), North America (0.26%), Oceania (0.00%)
#7. Sunflower County
- Born in Mississippi: 22,671 (88.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,824 (11.0% of population)
--- Midwest (3.3%), Northeast (0.7%), South (6.4%), West (0.6%)
- Born in another country: 132 (0.51% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.02%), Latin America (0.50%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#6. Leflore County
- Born in Mississippi: 25,511 (88.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,797 (9.7% of population)
--- Midwest (2.7%), Northeast (0.4%), South (6.0%), West (0.7%)
- Born in another country: 397 (1.38% of population)
--- Africa (0.08%) , Asia (0.32%), Europe (0.10%), Latin America (0.87%), North America (0.01%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#5. Carroll County
- Born in Mississippi: 8,885 (89.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,087 (10.9% of population)
--- Midwest (2.8%), Northeast (0.8%), South (6.8%), West (0.5%)
- Born in another country: 0 (0.00% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.00%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#4. Claiborne County
- Born in Mississippi: 8,070 (89.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 880 (9.7% of population)
--- Midwest (4.2%), Northeast (0.9%), South (4.4%), West (0.2%)
- Born in another country: 62 (0.69% of population)
--- Africa (0.63%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.06%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#3. Holmes County
- Born in Mississippi: 15,790 (90.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,503 (8.6% of population)
--- Midwest (4.7%), Northeast (0.2%), South (3.1%), West (0.6%)
- Born in another country: 41 (0.24% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.20%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.03%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#2. Humphreys County
- Born in Mississippi: 7,498 (91.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 628 (7.7% of population)
--- Midwest (4.1%), Northeast (0.8%), South (2.7%), West (0.0%)
- Born in another country: 72 (0.88% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.13%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.67%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.07%)
#1. Sharkey County
- Born in Mississippi: 4,049 (91.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 370 (8.4% of population)
--- Midwest (1.6%), Northeast (0.0%), South (6.3%), West (0.4%)
- Born in another country: 0 (0.00% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.00%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
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