Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Iowa

Written by:
August 6, 2022
Arina P Habich // Shutterstock

Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Iowa

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 Iowa 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.

#50. Dubuque County

- Population: 97,193
- Born in Iowa: 72,106 (74.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 21,990 (22.6% of population)
--- Midwest (16.1%), Northeast (1.4%), South (3.0%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 2,666 (2.74% of population)
--- Africa (0.09%) , Asia (1.16%), Europe (0.31%), Latin America (0.76%), North America (0.09%), Oceania (0.33%)

#49. Poweshiek County

- Population: 18,391
- Born in Iowa: 13,664 (74.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,150 (22.6% of population)
--- Midwest (10.4%), Northeast (3.0%), South (4.6%), West (4.6%)
- Born in another country: 483 (2.63% of population)
--- Africa (0.15%) , Asia (1.38%), Europe (0.42%), Latin America (0.54%), North America (0.09%), Oceania (0.04%)

#48. Plymouth County

- Population: 25,141
- Born in Iowa: 18,806 (74.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,295 (21.1% of population)
--- Midwest (15.1%), Northeast (0.9%), South (1.6%), West (3.5%)
- Born in another country: 896 (3.56% of population)
--- Africa (0.97%) , Asia (0.49%), Europe (0.18%), Latin America (1.93%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#47. Floyd County

- Population: 15,713
- Born in Iowa: 11,759 (74.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,272 (20.8% of population)
--- Midwest (11.4%), Northeast (3.0%), South (3.2%), West (3.1%)
- Born in another country: 565 (3.60% of population)
--- Africa (0.98%) , Asia (1.60%), Europe (0.02%), Latin America (0.94%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.00%)

#46. Cerro Gordo County

- Population: 42,672
- Born in Iowa: 31,945 (74.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 9,464 (22.2% of population)
--- Midwest (14.2%), Northeast (0.9%), South (3.2%), West (3.9%)
- Born in another country: 947 (2.22% of population)
--- Africa (0.12%) , Asia (0.94%), Europe (0.15%), Latin America (0.91%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.09%)

#45. Cherokee County

- Population: 11,281
- Born in Iowa: 8,561 (75.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,398 (21.3% of population)
--- Midwest (11.0%), Northeast (0.9%), South (4.9%), West (4.5%)
- Born in another country: 150 (1.33% of population)
--- Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.94%), Europe (0.12%), Latin America (0.23%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#44. Monona County

- Population: 8,675
- Born in Iowa: 6,597 (76.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,020 (23.3% of population)
--- Midwest (15.7%), Northeast (1.0%), South (3.3%), West (3.2%)
- Born in another country: 29 (0.33% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.32%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#43. Marion County

- Population: 33,193
- Born in Iowa: 25,528 (76.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,889 (20.8% of population)
--- Midwest (12.2%), Northeast (1.8%), South (3.6%), West (3.2%)
- Born in another country: 626 (1.89% of population)
--- Africa (0.14%) , Asia (0.78%), Europe (0.38%), Latin America (0.44%), North America (0.14%), Oceania (0.00%)

#42. Kossuth County

- Population: 14,864
- Born in Iowa: 11,520 (77.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,015 (20.3% of population)
--- Midwest (15.1%), Northeast (0.7%), South (2.0%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 258 (1.74% of population)
--- Africa (0.13%) , Asia (0.49%), Europe (0.06%), Latin America (1.05%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#41. Adams County

- Population: 3,633
- Born in Iowa: 2,823 (77.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 777 (21.4% of population)
--- Midwest (14.2%), Northeast (0.6%), South (3.9%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 33 (0.91% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.39%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.52%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#40. Washington County

- Population: 22,100
- Born in Iowa: 17,214 (77.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,907 (17.7% of population)
--- Midwest (9.3%), Northeast (1.1%), South (4.8%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 964 (4.36% of population)
--- Africa (0.05%) , Asia (0.48%), Europe (0.92%), Latin America (2.85%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.07%)

#39. Mahaska County

- Population: 22,351
- Born in Iowa: 17,413 (77.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,439 (19.9% of population)
--- Midwest (11.3%), Northeast (0.7%), South (3.6%), West (4.2%)
- Born in another country: 433 (1.94% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (1.22%), Europe (0.54%), Latin America (0.17%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#38. Webster County

- Population: 36,348
- Born in Iowa: 28,333 (77.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,883 (18.9% of population)
--- Midwest (10.1%), Northeast (1.7%), South (3.1%), West (4.1%)
- Born in another country: 998 (2.75% of population)
--- Africa (0.12%) , Asia (0.81%), Europe (0.13%), Latin America (1.41%), North America (0.22%), Oceania (0.06%)

#37. Palo Alto County

- Population: 8,941
- Born in Iowa: 6,972 (78.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,775 (19.9% of population)
--- Midwest (11.9%), Northeast (1.2%), South (2.8%), West (3.9%)
- Born in another country: 176 (1.97% of population)
--- Africa (0.78%) , Asia (0.12%), Europe (0.02%), Latin America (1.01%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.00%)

#36. Hancock County

- Population: 10,709
- Born in Iowa: 8,378 (78.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,124 (19.8% of population)
--- Midwest (12.4%), Northeast (0.7%), South (3.6%), West (3.2%)
- Born in another country: 183 (1.71% of population)
--- Africa (0.05%) , Asia (0.19%), Europe (0.15%), Latin America (1.31%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.00%)

#35. Hamilton County

- Population: 14,905
- Born in Iowa: 11,681 (78.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,467 (16.6% of population)
--- Midwest (9.1%), Northeast (1.1%), South (2.3%), West (4.1%)
- Born in another country: 635 (4.26% of population)
--- Africa (0.18%) , Asia (1.31%), Europe (0.56%), Latin America (2.13%), North America (0.07%), Oceania (0.00%)

#34. O'Brien County

- Population: 13,796
- Born in Iowa: 10,817 (78.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,479 (18.0% of population)
--- Midwest (13.1%), Northeast (0.1%), South (1.6%), West (3.2%)
- Born in another country: 395 (2.86% of population)
--- Africa (0.44%) , Asia (0.78%), Europe (0.17%), Latin America (1.46%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.00%)

#33. Pocahontas County

- Population: 6,725
- Born in Iowa: 5,303 (78.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,127 (16.8% of population)
--- Midwest (10.2%), Northeast (0.6%), South (2.4%), West (3.6%)
- Born in another country: 210 (3.12% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.80%), Europe (0.15%), Latin America (1.28%), North America (0.43%), Oceania (0.46%)

#32. Hardin County

- Population: 16,924
- Born in Iowa: 13,365 (79.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,890 (17.1% of population)
--- Midwest (10.0%), Northeast (1.1%), South (2.3%), West (3.7%)
- Born in another country: 446 (2.64% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.65%), Europe (0.20%), Latin America (1.36%), North America (0.25%), Oceania (0.17%)

#31. Warren County

- Population: 50,867
- Born in Iowa: 40,426 (79.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 9,386 (18.5% of population)
--- Midwest (10.2%), Northeast (1.1%), South (3.4%), West (3.8%)
- Born in another country: 801 (1.57% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.47%), Europe (0.62%), Latin America (0.33%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.10%)

#30. Lucas County

- Population: 8,556
- Born in Iowa: 6,816 (79.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,471 (17.2% of population)
--- Midwest (10.2%), Northeast (0.4%), South (2.7%), West (3.9%)
- Born in another country: 250 (2.92% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.05%), Europe (1.81%), Latin America (1.06%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#29. Boone County

- Population: 26,381
- Born in Iowa: 21,093 (80.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,740 (18.0% of population)
--- Midwest (10.6%), Northeast (0.9%), South (3.2%), West (3.3%)
- Born in another country: 458 (1.74% of population)
--- Africa (0.31%) , Asia (0.26%), Europe (0.39%), Latin America (0.77%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#28. Franklin County

- Population: 10,091
- Born in Iowa: 8,069 (80.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,576 (15.6% of population)
--- Midwest (6.9%), Northeast (1.0%), South (5.3%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 403 (3.99% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.53%), Latin America (3.47%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#27. Madison County

- Population: 16,148
- Born in Iowa: 12,924 (80.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,088 (19.1% of population)
--- Midwest (10.4%), Northeast (0.8%), South (4.3%), West (3.6%)
- Born in another country: 134 (0.83% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.56%), Europe (0.12%), Latin America (0.15%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#26. Jones County

- Population: 20,575
- Born in Iowa: 16,520 (80.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,708 (18.0% of population)
--- Midwest (10.1%), Northeast (1.7%), South (2.2%), West (3.9%)
- Born in another country: 229 (1.11% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.66%), Europe (0.11%), Latin America (0.35%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#25. Tama County

- Population: 16,962
- Born in Iowa: 13,646 (80.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,482 (14.6% of population)
--- Midwest (7.2%), Northeast (0.5%), South (3.2%), West (3.8%)
- Born in another country: 810 (4.78% of population)
--- Africa (0.17%) , Asia (0.39%), Europe (0.14%), Latin America (4.08%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#24. Jasper County

- Population: 37,032
- Born in Iowa: 29,880 (80.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,067 (16.4% of population)
--- Midwest (8.4%), Northeast (0.9%), South (3.3%), West (3.7%)
- Born in another country: 885 (2.39% of population)
--- Africa (0.93%) , Asia (0.53%), Europe (0.17%), Latin America (0.75%), North America (0.01%), Oceania (0.00%)

#23. Carroll County

- Population: 20,150
- Born in Iowa: 16,279 (80.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,399 (16.9% of population)
--- Midwest (9.3%), Northeast (0.9%), South (1.4%), West (5.3%)
- Born in another country: 411 (2.04% of population)
--- Africa (0.42%) , Asia (0.67%), Europe (0.26%), Latin America (0.67%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.00%)

#22. Audubon County

- Population: 5,528
- Born in Iowa: 4,472 (80.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,021 (18.5% of population)
--- Midwest (10.7%), Northeast (0.3%), South (2.9%), West (4.6%)
- Born in another country: 22 (0.40% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.04%), Europe (0.22%), Latin America (0.14%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#21. Monroe County

- Population: 7,761
- Born in Iowa: 6,308 (81.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,321 (17.0% of population)
--- Midwest (10.7%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.8%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 52 (0.67% of population)
--- Africa (0.06%) , Asia (0.06%), Europe (0.54%), Latin America (0.00%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#20. Greene County

- Population: 8,923
- Born in Iowa: 7,259 (81.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,445 (16.2% of population)
--- Midwest (6.5%), Northeast (1.6%), South (5.2%), West (3.0%)
- Born in another country: 174 (1.95% of population)
--- Africa (0.11%) , Asia (0.53%), Europe (0.33%), Latin America (0.81%), North America (0.18%), Oceania (0.00%)

#19. Jackson County

- Population: 19,348
- Born in Iowa: 15,744 (81.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,302 (17.1% of population)
--- Midwest (12.1%), Northeast (1.4%), South (2.2%), West (1.3%)
- Born in another country: 205 (1.06% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.34%), Europe (0.22%), Latin America (0.13%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (0.32%)

#18. Fayette County

- Population: 19,604
- Born in Iowa: 16,010 (81.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,255 (16.6% of population)
--- Midwest (9.3%), Northeast (1.4%), South (2.8%), West (3.1%)
- Born in another country: 248 (1.27% of population)
--- Africa (0.07%) , Asia (0.44%), Europe (0.18%), Latin America (0.56%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.01%)

#17. Ida County

- Population: 6,862
- Born in Iowa: 5,612 (81.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,129 (16.5% of population)
--- Midwest (10.4%), Northeast (0.5%), South (2.3%), West (3.3%)
- Born in another country: 97 (1.41% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.07%), Europe (0.25%), Latin America (0.83%), North America (0.26%), Oceania (0.00%)

#16. Keokuk County

- Population: 10,163
- Born in Iowa: 8,347 (82.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,699 (16.7% of population)
--- Midwest (10.8%), Northeast (1.4%), South (2.0%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 102 (1.00% of population)
--- Africa (0.05%) , Asia (0.12%), Europe (0.04%), Latin America (0.80%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#15. Guthrie County

- Population: 10,702
- Born in Iowa: 8,796 (82.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,742 (16.3% of population)
--- Midwest (9.3%), Northeast (0.8%), South (3.0%), West (3.2%)
- Born in another country: 157 (1.47% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.15%), Europe (0.48%), Latin America (0.84%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#14. Bremer County

- Population: 25,032
- Born in Iowa: 20,664 (82.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,852 (15.4% of population)
--- Midwest (10.2%), Northeast (0.7%), South (2.1%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 435 (1.74% of population)
--- Africa (0.36%) , Asia (0.76%), Europe (0.08%), Latin America (0.50%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)

#13. Calhoun County

- Population: 9,656
- Born in Iowa: 7,978 (82.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,495 (15.5% of population)
--- Midwest (7.9%), Northeast (1.1%), South (3.0%), West (3.5%)
- Born in another country: 157 (1.63% of population)
--- Africa (0.42%) , Asia (0.37%), Europe (0.07%), Latin America (0.71%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (0.00%)

#12. Wright County

- Population: 12,644
- Born in Iowa: 10,461 (82.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,635 (12.9% of population)
--- Midwest (7.8%), Northeast (0.3%), South (2.9%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 487 (3.85% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.09%), Europe (0.15%), Latin America (3.61%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#11. Humboldt County

- Population: 9,518
- Born in Iowa: 7,889 (82.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,366 (14.4% of population)
--- Midwest (8.9%), Northeast (0.2%), South (2.5%), West (2.8%)
- Born in another country: 209 (2.20% of population)
--- Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.36%), Europe (0.18%), Latin America (1.62%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#10. Cedar County

- Population: 18,475
- Born in Iowa: 15,332 (83.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,806 (15.2% of population)
--- Midwest (9.6%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.2%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 294 (1.59% of population)
--- Africa (0.43%) , Asia (0.41%), Europe (0.05%), Latin America (0.70%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#9. Sac County

- Population: 9,711
- Born in Iowa: 8,067 (83.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,446 (14.9% of population)
--- Midwest (8.3%), Northeast (0.5%), South (2.1%), West (3.9%)
- Born in another country: 182 (1.87% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.37%), Europe (0.16%), Latin America (1.26%), North America (0.08%), Oceania (0.00%)

#8. Chickasaw County

- Population: 11,970
- Born in Iowa: 9,945 (83.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,775 (14.8% of population)
--- Midwest (8.2%), Northeast (3.1%), South (2.1%), West (1.4%)
- Born in another country: 240 (2.01% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.10%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (1.87%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.00%)

#7. Iowa County

- Population: 16,155
- Born in Iowa: 13,459 (83.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,479 (15.3% of population)
--- Midwest (8.6%), Northeast (1.5%), South (1.9%), West (3.3%)
- Born in another country: 169 (1.05% of population)
--- Africa (0.05%) , Asia (0.25%), Europe (0.43%), Latin America (0.32%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#6. Benton County

- Population: 25,558
- Born in Iowa: 21,676 (84.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,642 (14.2% of population)
--- Midwest (7.4%), Northeast (1.8%), South (2.3%), West (2.8%)
- Born in another country: 196 (0.77% of population)
--- Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.29%), Europe (0.18%), Latin America (0.24%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.00%)

#5. Adair County

- Population: 7,048
- Born in Iowa: 6,004 (85.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 883 (12.5% of population)
--- Midwest (7.3%), Northeast (0.4%), South (2.6%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 117 (1.66% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.57%), Europe (0.45%), Latin America (0.34%), North America (0.30%), Oceania (0.00%)

#4. Grundy County

- Population: 12,262
- Born in Iowa: 10,448 (85.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,603 (13.1% of population)
--- Midwest (8.2%), Northeast (0.6%), South (1.5%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 163 (1.33% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.29%), Europe (0.22%), Latin America (0.77%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)

#3. Butler County

- Population: 14,508
- Born in Iowa: 12,565 (86.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,702 (11.7% of population)
--- Midwest (6.9%), Northeast (0.8%), South (1.4%), West (2.6%)
- Born in another country: 181 (1.25% of population)
--- Africa (0.10%) , Asia (0.57%), Europe (0.30%), Latin America (0.29%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#2. Buchanan County

- Population: 21,141
- Born in Iowa: 18,482 (87.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,474 (11.7% of population)
--- Midwest (7.5%), Northeast (0.7%), South (1.9%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 147 (0.70% of population)
--- Africa (0.06%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.19%), Latin America (0.36%), North America (0.07%), Oceania (0.01%)

#1. Delaware County

- Population: 17,107
- Born in Iowa: 15,460 (90.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,477 (8.6% of population)
--- Midwest (5.6%), Northeast (0.3%), South (1.7%), West (1.0%)
- Born in another country: 126 (0.74% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.47%), Europe (0.12%), Latin America (0.15%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

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