Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in New Mexico

Carptrash // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in New Mexico

In certain corners of the U.S., the only way you’ll ever be considered a local is if you were born there. Elsewhere, particularly in major metropolitan centers, the constant influx of new businesses, college students, and families can transform neighborhoods every few years and certainly decade over decade.

Americans change their addresses at higher rates than most other countries, but that “move, move, move” mentality may be shifting. In 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that only 11.2% of respondents had moved within the last year. Additionally, 72% of Americans reported living in or close to the city they grew up in. To learn more about where people are staying put, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most born-and-bred residents in New Mexico using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents that were born in the state as of 2019.

Keep reading to discover which counties in your state have the most born-and-bred residents.

1 / 30

David Langford // Shutterstock

#30. Doña Ana County

- Population: 216,069
- Born in New Mexico: 88,893 (41.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 87,629 (40.6% of population)
--- Midwest (5.5%), Northeast (3.2%), South (21.9%), West (9.9%)
- Born in another country: 37,109 (17.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (1.5%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (14.9%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

2 / 30

Gestalt Imagery // Shutterstock

#29. Lincoln County

- Population: 19,461
- Born in New Mexico: 8,050 (41.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 9,723 (50.0% of population)
--- Midwest (8.2%), Northeast (3.1%), South (26.7%), West (12.0%)
- Born in another country: 1,536 (7.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (6.6%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

3 / 30

AllenS // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Lea County

- Population: 70,277
- Born in New Mexico: 30,412 (43.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 27,423 (39.0% of population)
--- Midwest (3.3%), Northeast (0.6%), South (26.5%), West (8.5%)
- Born in another country: 11,868 (16.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (16.2%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

4 / 30

psyberartist // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Sierra County

- Population: 11,031
- Born in New Mexico: 4,834 (43.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,626 (51.0% of population)
--- Midwest (15.9%), Northeast (7.0%), South (12.8%), West (15.1%)
- Born in another country: 500 (4.5% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.8%), Europe (0.9%), Latin America (2.8%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

5 / 30

Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Curry County

- Population: 49,732
- Born in New Mexico: 22,878 (46.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 21,377 (43.0% of population)
--- Midwest (8.0%), Northeast (3.8%), South (20.2%), West (10.3%)
- Born in another country: 4,820 (9.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.8%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (8.4%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

6 / 30

Asaavedra32 // Wikimedia

#25. Santa Fe County

- Population: 149,293
- Born in New Mexico: 69,695 (46.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 60,134 (40.3% of population)
--- Midwest (9.9%), Northeast (8.4%), South (9.9%), West (12.0%)
- Born in another country: 17,900 (12.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (1.1%), Europe (1.3%), Latin America (9.1%), North America (0.3%), Oceania (0.0%)

7 / 30

AllenS // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Luna County

- Population: 24,083
- Born in New Mexico: 11,693 (48.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 7,936 (33.0% of population)
--- Midwest (7.0%), Northeast (3.8%), South (8.9%), West (13.2%)
- Born in another country: 4,279 (17.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (16.6%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

8 / 30

Vacaypicts // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Harding County

- Population: 441
- Born in New Mexico: 221 (50.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 187 (42.4% of population)
--- Midwest (3.9%), Northeast (3.6%), South (23.4%), West (11.6%)
- Born in another country: 29 (6.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (5.2%), North America (0.9%), Oceania (0.0%)

9 / 30

Wordbuilder // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Roosevelt County

- Population: 18,888
- Born in New Mexico: 9,841 (52.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 6,645 (35.2% of population)
--- Midwest (5.0%), Northeast (2.4%), South (18.5%), West (9.3%)
- Born in another country: 2,095 (11.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (10.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

10 / 30

Underawesternsky // Shutterstock

#21. Grant County

- Population: 27,669
- Born in New Mexico: 14,486 (52.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 11,973 (43.3% of population)
--- Midwest (8.3%), Northeast (3.9%), South (10.1%), West (20.9%)
- Born in another country: 988 (3.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (2.5%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

11 / 30

Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Hidalgo County

- Population: 4,297
- Born in New Mexico: 2,266 (52.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,635 (38.0% of population)
--- Midwest (5.9%), Northeast (2.8%), South (8.9%), West (20.5%)
- Born in another country: 338 (7.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (7.4%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

12 / 30

Wordbuilder // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Union County

- Population: 4,133
- Born in New Mexico: 2,231 (54.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,632 (39.5% of population)
--- Midwest (7.1%), Northeast (2.6%), South (20.8%), West (9.0%)
- Born in another country: 230 (5.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (5.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

13 / 30

M.Bucka // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Bernalillo County

- Population: 677,858
- Born in New Mexico: 368,583 (54.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 232,754 (34.3% of population)
--- Midwest (8.0%), Northeast (4.8%), South (9.6%), West (11.7%)
- Born in another country: 68,167 (10.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.3%), Asia (2.2%), Europe (0.8%), Latin America (6.6%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

14 / 30

turtix // Shutterstock

#17. Sandoval County

- Population: 142,704
- Born in New Mexico: 79,218 (55.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 54,483 (38.2% of population)
--- Midwest (9.1%), Northeast (7.1%), South (9.0%), West (12.8%)
- Born in another country: 7,575 (5.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (1.0%), Europe (0.7%), Latin America (3.2%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

15 / 30

Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Colfax County

- Population: 12,168
- Born in New Mexico: 6,876 (56.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,870 (40.0% of population)
--- Midwest (7.0%), Northeast (1.6%), South (15.0%), West (16.3%)
- Born in another country: 388 (3.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (2.4%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

16 / 30

Lochaven // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Taos County

- Population: 32,786
- Born in New Mexico: 18,698 (57.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 11,616 (35.4% of population)
--- Midwest (6.2%), Northeast (6.3%), South (6.8%), West (16.0%)
- Born in another country: 2,000 (6.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (1.5%), Latin America (4.1%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.1%)

17 / 30

Tony Hisgett // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Quay County

- Population: 8,326
- Born in New Mexico: 4,768 (57.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,249 (39.0% of population)
--- Midwest (5.4%), Northeast (2.5%), South (18.8%), West (12.3%)
- Born in another country: 273 (3.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (2.5%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

18 / 30

Canva

#13. Eddy County

- Population: 57,732
- Born in New Mexico: 34,130 (59.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 19,481 (33.7% of population)
--- Midwest (4.9%), Northeast (1.5%), South (17.5%), West (9.8%)
- Born in another country: 3,820 (6.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (6.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

19 / 30

Cheri Alguire // Shutterstock

#12. Chaves County

- Population: 65,144
- Born in New Mexico: 38,514 (59.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 17,826 (27.4% of population)
--- Midwest (5.1%), Northeast (2.0%), South (11.6%), West (8.7%)
- Born in another country: 8,217 (12.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.9%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (11.2%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

20 / 30

AllenS // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Torrance County

- Population: 15,519
- Born in New Mexico: 9,359 (60.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,458 (35.2% of population)
--- Midwest (6.3%), Northeast (5.7%), South (10.9%), West (12.2%)
- Born in another country: 666 (4.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (3.9%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

21 / 30

Canva

#10. San Juan County

- Population: 126,515
- Born in New Mexico: 77,042 (60.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 45,390 (35.9% of population)
--- Midwest (5.3%), Northeast (1.7%), South (6.6%), West (22.2%)
- Born in another country: 3,587 (2.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (2.0%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

22 / 30

Drmccreedy // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Valencia County

- Population: 76,027
- Born in New Mexico: 50,088 (65.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 20,359 (26.8% of population)
--- Midwest (5.2%), Northeast (4.0%), South (7.5%), West (9.9%)
- Born in another country: 5,134 (6.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (5.6%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

23 / 30

Canva

#8. Socorro County

- Population: 16,858
- Born in New Mexico: 11,392 (67.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,220 (25.0% of population)
--- Midwest (5.4%), Northeast (2.8%), South (5.9%), West (10.6%)
- Born in another country: 1,157 (6.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (2.4%), Europe (0.7%), Latin America (3.4%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

24 / 30

AllenS // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Mora County

- Population: 4,536
- Born in New Mexico: 3,343 (73.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,147 (25.3% of population)
--- Midwest (3.7%), Northeast (3.4%), South (2.9%), West (15.2%)
- Born in another country: 46 (1.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (1.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

25 / 30

Canva

#6. Cibola County

- Population: 26,891
- Born in New Mexico: 20,072 (74.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 6,108 (22.7% of population)
--- Midwest (4.2%), Northeast (1.5%), South (5.0%), West (12.0%)
- Born in another country: 670 (2.5% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (1.9%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.1%)

26 / 30

KeanoManu // Wikimedia Commons

#5. San Miguel County

- Population: 27,738
- Born in New Mexico: 20,805 (75.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,880 (21.2% of population)
--- Midwest (4.1%), Northeast (2.8%), South (5.5%), West (8.8%)
- Born in another country: 1,005 (3.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.6%), Latin America (2.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.1%)

27 / 30

StockPhotoAstur // Shutterstock

#4. McKinley County

- Population: 72,438
- Born in New Mexico: 55,874 (77.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 14,855 (20.5% of population)
--- Midwest (1.7%), Northeast (0.8%), South (2.7%), West (15.3%)
- Born in another country: 1,608 (2.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.9%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (1.2%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

28 / 30

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Guadalupe County

- Population: 4,353
- Born in New Mexico: 3,360 (77.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 883 (20.3% of population)
--- Midwest (2.3%), Northeast (0.6%), South (8.5%), West (8.9%)
- Born in another country: 87 (2.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (1.7%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

29 / 30

Wordbuilder // Wikimedia Commons

#2. De Baca County

- Population: 2,040
- Born in New Mexico: 1,601 (78.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 407 (20.0% of population)
--- Midwest (3.5%), Northeast (0.3%), South (10.1%), West (6.0%)
- Born in another country: 26 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.8%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

30 / 30

Carptrash // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Rio Arriba County

- Population: 39,159
- Born in New Mexico: 31,496 (80.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,930 (15.1% of population)
--- Midwest (2.4%), Northeast (2.2%), South (3.2%), West (7.4%)
- Born in another country: 1,642 (4.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (3.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)