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

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

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

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 Wisconsin 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. Eau Claire County

- Population: 104,132
- Born in Wisconsin: 72,810 (69.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 27,148 (26.1% of population)
--- Midwest (17.4%), Northeast (1.7%), South (3.1%), West (3.8%)
- Born in another country: 3,786 (3.64% of population)
--- Africa (0.13%) , Asia (2.22%), Europe (0.23%), Latin America (0.68%), North America (0.14%), Oceania (0.22%)

#49. Rock County

- Population: 162,532
- Born in Wisconsin: 114,335 (70.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 40,042 (24.6% of population)
--- Midwest (16.1%), Northeast (1.5%), South (4.1%), West (2.9%)
- Born in another country: 7,382 (4.54% of population)
--- Africa (0.02%) , Asia (0.76%), Europe (0.54%), Latin America (3.10%), North America (0.12%), Oceania (0.01%)

#48. Ashland County

- Population: 15,524
- Born in Wisconsin: 10,951 (70.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,323 (27.8% of population)
--- Midwest (18.9%), Northeast (1.1%), South (2.4%), West (5.5%)
- Born in another country: 187 (1.20% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.41%), Europe (0.53%), Latin America (0.15%), North America (0.11%), Oceania (0.00%)

#47. La Crosse County

- Population: 118,168
- Born in Wisconsin: 83,524 (70.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 30,259 (25.6% of population)
--- Midwest (17.6%), Northeast (1.5%), South (3.0%), West (3.5%)
- Born in another country: 3,612 (3.06% of population)
--- Africa (0.18%) , Asia (2.18%), Europe (0.32%), Latin America (0.27%), North America (0.10%), Oceania (0.00%)

#46. Ozaukee County

- Population: 89,179
- Born in Wisconsin: 63,882 (71.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 19,883 (22.3% of population)
--- Midwest (12.9%), Northeast (3.5%), South (3.6%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 4,746 (5.32% of population)
--- Africa (0.18%) , Asia (1.67%), Europe (2.28%), Latin America (0.92%), North America (0.22%), Oceania (0.06%)

#45. Racine County

- Population: 195,859
- Born in Wisconsin: 141,314 (72.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 42,568 (21.7% of population)
--- Midwest (12.7%), Northeast (1.5%), South (4.7%), West (2.9%)
- Born in another country: 9,579 (4.89% of population)
--- Africa (0.14%) , Asia (0.96%), Europe (0.87%), Latin America (2.78%), North America (0.14%), Oceania (0.01%)

#44. Lafayette County

- Population: 16,682
- Born in Wisconsin: 12,154 (72.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,053 (24.3% of population)
--- Midwest (17.5%), Northeast (3.5%), South (1.7%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 399 (2.39% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.34%), Europe (0.31%), Latin America (1.74%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#43. Barron County

- Population: 45,182
- Born in Wisconsin: 33,187 (73.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 10,665 (23.6% of population)
--- Midwest (17.5%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.5%), West (2.6%)
- Born in another country: 1,100 (2.43% of population)
--- Africa (0.67%) , Asia (0.50%), Europe (0.41%), Latin America (0.79%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.01%)

#42. Juneau County

- Population: 26,603
- Born in Wisconsin: 19,563 (73.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,238 (23.4% of population)
--- Midwest (15.5%), Northeast (1.4%), South (3.8%), West (2.8%)
- Born in another country: 628 (2.36% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.50%), Europe (1.36%), Latin America (0.45%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.02%)

#41. Rusk County

- Population: 14,074
- Born in Wisconsin: 10,437 (74.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,412 (24.2% of population)
--- Midwest (17.1%), Northeast (1.5%), South (2.6%), West (3.0%)
- Born in another country: 173 (1.23% of population)
--- Africa (0.06%) , Asia (0.15%), Europe (0.42%), Latin America (0.45%), North America (0.14%), Oceania (0.01%)

#40. Oneida County

- Population: 35,480
- Born in Wisconsin: 26,346 (74.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,511 (24.0% of population)
--- Midwest (18.0%), Northeast (1.4%), South (2.1%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 441 (1.24% of population)
--- Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.45%), Europe (0.43%), Latin America (0.12%), North America (0.21%), Oceania (0.00%)

#39. Waukesha County

- Population: 402,637
- Born in Wisconsin: 301,910 (75.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 76,175 (18.9% of population)
--- Midwest (11.7%), Northeast (2.2%), South (2.7%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 21,379 (5.31% of population)
--- Africa (0.10%) , Asia (2.56%), Europe (1.30%), Latin America (1.19%), North America (0.12%), Oceania (0.04%)

#38. Brown County

- Population: 262,559
- Born in Wisconsin: 197,342 (75.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 47,190 (18.0% of population)
--- Midwest (10.8%), Northeast (1.5%), South (2.8%), West (2.9%)
- Born in another country: 15,342 (5.84% of population)
--- Africa (0.28%) , Asia (1.78%), Europe (0.46%), Latin America (3.19%), North America (0.11%), Oceania (0.03%)

#37. Marquette County

- Population: 15,380
- Born in Wisconsin: 11,586 (75.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,479 (22.6% of population)
--- Midwest (16.2%), Northeast (1.1%), South (2.8%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 272 (1.77% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.36%), Europe (0.84%), Latin America (0.52%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)

#36. Monroe County

- Population: 46,155
- Born in Wisconsin: 34,804 (75.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 9,742 (21.1% of population)
--- Midwest (12.1%), Northeast (1.7%), South (4.4%), West (2.9%)
- Born in another country: 1,160 (2.51% of population)
--- Africa (0.15%) , Asia (0.56%), Europe (0.32%), Latin America (1.29%), North America (0.15%), Oceania (0.03%)

#35. Price County

- Population: 13,351
- Born in Wisconsin: 10,069 (75.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,971 (22.3% of population)
--- Midwest (16.0%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.6%), West (2.6%)
- Born in another country: 250 (1.87% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.38%), Europe (0.42%), Latin America (0.12%), North America (0.09%), Oceania (0.86%)

#34. Green County

- Population: 36,790
- Born in Wisconsin: 27,836 (75.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,999 (21.7% of population)
--- Midwest (16.2%), Northeast (0.9%), South (2.2%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 822 (2.23% of population)
--- Africa (0.07%) , Asia (0.27%), Europe (0.59%), Latin America (1.19%), North America (0.10%), Oceania (0.01%)

#33. Sauk County

- Population: 64,152
- Born in Wisconsin: 48,749 (76.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 12,856 (20.0% of population)
--- Midwest (14.1%), Northeast (1.2%), South (2.6%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 2,068 (3.22% of population)
--- Africa (0.03%) , Asia (0.41%), Europe (1.09%), Latin America (1.63%), North America (0.07%), Oceania (0.00%)

#32. Jefferson County

- Population: 84,837
- Born in Wisconsin: 64,655 (76.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 17,000 (20.0% of population)
--- Midwest (12.6%), Northeast (1.3%), South (3.1%), West (3.0%)
- Born in another country: 2,705 (3.19% of population)
--- Africa (0.02%) , Asia (0.47%), Europe (0.37%), Latin America (2.21%), North America (0.10%), Oceania (0.01%)

#31. Crawford County

- Population: 16,155
- Born in Wisconsin: 12,352 (76.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,469 (21.5% of population)
--- Midwest (17.4%), Northeast (1.3%), South (1.3%), West (1.4%)
- Born in another country: 252 (1.56% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.38%), Europe (0.75%), Latin America (0.37%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)

#30. Portage County

- Population: 70,822
- Born in Wisconsin: 54,455 (76.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 13,214 (18.7% of population)
--- Midwest (11.7%), Northeast (1.3%), South (3.0%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 2,813 (3.97% of population)
--- Africa (0.09%) , Asia (2.22%), Europe (0.71%), Latin America (0.75%), North America (0.17%), Oceania (0.03%)

#29. Sheboygan County

- Population: 115,152
- Born in Wisconsin: 89,206 (77.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 18,594 (16.1% of population)
--- Midwest (9.5%), Northeast (1.2%), South (2.9%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 6,769 (5.88% of population)
--- Africa (0.25%) , Asia (2.81%), Europe (1.08%), Latin America (1.57%), North America (0.13%), Oceania (0.04%)

#28. Trempealeau County

- Population: 29,525
- Born in Wisconsin: 22,884 (77.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,345 (18.1% of population)
--- Midwest (13.3%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.0%), West (1.9%)
- Born in another country: 1,186 (4.02% of population)
--- Africa (0.11%) , Asia (0.30%), Europe (0.29%), Latin America (3.25%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.00%)

#27. Columbia County

- Population: 57,331
- Born in Wisconsin: 44,474 (77.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 11,091 (19.3% of population)
--- Midwest (12.4%), Northeast (1.6%), South (3.0%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 1,478 (2.58% of population)
--- Africa (0.07%) , Asia (0.54%), Europe (0.68%), Latin America (1.13%), North America (0.14%), Oceania (0.03%)

#26. Winnebago County

- Population: 170,924
- Born in Wisconsin: 132,809 (77.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 30,741 (18.0% of population)
--- Midwest (10.4%), Northeast (1.7%), South (3.1%), West (2.8%)
- Born in another country: 6,032 (3.53% of population)
--- Africa (0.07%) , Asia (1.77%), Europe (0.56%), Latin America (0.98%), North America (0.09%), Oceania (0.05%)

#25. Clark County

- Population: 34,668
- Born in Wisconsin: 26,976 (77.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,611 (19.1% of population)
--- Midwest (10.3%), Northeast (5.0%), South (1.8%), West (1.9%)
- Born in another country: 854 (2.46% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.29%), Europe (0.19%), Latin America (1.91%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.01%)

#24. Green Lake County

- Population: 18,807
- Born in Wisconsin: 14,664 (78.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,650 (19.4% of population)
--- Midwest (13.3%), Northeast (1.2%), South (2.9%), West (1.9%)
- Born in another country: 374 (1.99% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.26%), Europe (0.63%), Latin America (1.10%), North America (0.01%), Oceania (0.00%)

#23. Jackson County

- Population: 20,556
- Born in Wisconsin: 16,070 (78.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,007 (19.5% of population)
--- Midwest (13.1%), Northeast (1.4%), South (2.3%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 398 (1.94% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.35%), Europe (0.30%), Latin America (1.22%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (0.03%)

#22. Vernon County

- Population: 30,759
- Born in Wisconsin: 24,156 (78.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,996 (19.5% of population)
--- Midwest (14.2%), Northeast (1.7%), South (1.3%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 411 (1.34% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.35%), Europe (0.53%), Latin America (0.31%), North America (0.12%), Oceania (0.03%)

#21. Waushara County

- Population: 24,256
- Born in Wisconsin: 19,066 (78.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,462 (18.4% of population)
--- Midwest (11.7%), Northeast (1.1%), South (3.5%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 596 (2.46% of population)
--- Africa (0.07%) , Asia (0.30%), Europe (0.40%), Latin America (1.58%), North America (0.07%), Oceania (0.03%)

#20. Marathon County

- Population: 135,485
- Born in Wisconsin: 107,100 (79.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 22,635 (16.7% of population)
--- Midwest (10.3%), Northeast (1.6%), South (2.5%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 5,136 (3.79% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (2.27%), Europe (0.34%), Latin America (1.04%), North America (0.12%), Oceania (0.00%)

#19. Chippewa County

- Population: 64,175
- Born in Wisconsin: 50,801 (79.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 12,113 (18.9% of population)
--- Midwest (12.1%), Northeast (1.5%), South (2.9%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 969 (1.51% of population)
--- Africa (0.15%) , Asia (0.74%), Europe (0.14%), Latin America (0.38%), North America (0.11%), Oceania (0.00%)

#18. Lincoln County

- Population: 27,687
- Born in Wisconsin: 21,994 (79.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,357 (19.3% of population)
--- Midwest (12.8%), Northeast (1.7%), South (2.7%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 260 (0.94% of population)
--- Africa (0.02%) , Asia (0.22%), Europe (0.35%), Latin America (0.23%), North America (0.11%), Oceania (0.00%)

#17. Outagamie County

- Population: 186,829
- Born in Wisconsin: 148,631 (79.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 30,584 (16.4% of population)
--- Midwest (9.6%), Northeast (1.5%), South (2.6%), West (2.8%)
- Born in another country: 6,841 (3.66% of population)
--- Africa (0.14%) , Asia (1.82%), Europe (0.43%), Latin America (1.16%), North America (0.10%), Oceania (0.01%)

#16. Richland County

- Population: 17,408
- Born in Wisconsin: 13,943 (80.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,036 (17.4% of population)
--- Midwest (11.9%), Northeast (1.5%), South (1.9%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 382 (2.19% of population)
--- Africa (0.03%) , Asia (0.70%), Europe (0.37%), Latin America (1.07%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.00%)

#15. Iowa County

- Population: 23,632
- Born in Wisconsin: 19,028 (80.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,111 (17.4% of population)
--- Midwest (11.1%), Northeast (1.7%), South (3.0%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 379 (1.60% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.62%), Europe (0.48%), Latin America (0.41%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.08%)

#14. Wood County

- Population: 72,892
- Born in Wisconsin: 59,609 (81.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 11,311 (15.5% of population)
--- Midwest (10.4%), Northeast (0.8%), South (2.1%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 1,726 (2.37% of population)
--- Africa (0.22%) , Asia (1.06%), Europe (0.41%), Latin America (0.56%), North America (0.13%), Oceania (0.00%)

#13. Taylor County

- Population: 20,320
- Born in Wisconsin: 16,676 (82.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,252 (16.0% of population)
--- Midwest (11.1%), Northeast (1.2%), South (1.5%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 303 (1.49% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.25%), Europe (0.22%), Latin America (0.89%), North America (0.13%), Oceania (0.00%)

#12. Washington County

- Population: 135,529
- Born in Wisconsin: 111,541 (82.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 19,942 (14.7% of population)
--- Midwest (9.4%), Northeast (1.2%), South (2.3%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 3,389 (2.50% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (1.17%), Europe (0.64%), Latin America (0.59%), North America (0.09%), Oceania (0.01%)

#11. Dodge County

- Population: 87,569
- Born in Wisconsin: 72,286 (82.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 12,970 (14.8% of population)
--- Midwest (9.0%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.5%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 1,844 (2.11% of population)
--- Africa (0.12%) , Asia (0.51%), Europe (0.35%), Latin America (1.09%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (0.00%)

#10. Fond du Lac County

- Population: 102,654
- Born in Wisconsin: 84,950 (82.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 14,050 (13.7% of population)
--- Midwest (8.1%), Northeast (1.0%), South (1.9%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 3,341 (3.25% of population)
--- Africa (0.13%) , Asia (1.02%), Europe (0.32%), Latin America (1.67%), North America (0.12%), Oceania (0.00%)

#9. Manitowoc County

- Population: 78,977
- Born in Wisconsin: 65,376 (82.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 10,941 (13.9% of population)
--- Midwest (7.7%), Northeast (1.3%), South (2.5%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 2,263 (2.87% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (1.17%), Europe (0.44%), Latin America (1.22%), North America (0.01%), Oceania (0.02%)

#8. Waupaca County

- Population: 50,997
- Born in Wisconsin: 42,500 (83.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,320 (14.4% of population)
--- Midwest (8.9%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.4%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 1,026 (2.01% of population)
--- Africa (0.15%) , Asia (0.23%), Europe (0.47%), Latin America (1.09%), North America (0.07%), Oceania (0.00%)

#7. Calumet County

- Population: 50,005
- Born in Wisconsin: 41,790 (83.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,627 (13.3% of population)
--- Midwest (7.9%), Northeast (0.9%), South (2.6%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 1,321 (2.64% of population)
--- Africa (0.03%) , Asia (1.12%), Europe (0.21%), Latin America (1.20%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.03%)

#6. Kewaunee County

- Population: 20,398
- Born in Wisconsin: 17,200 (84.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,646 (13.0% of population)
--- Midwest (8.9%), Northeast (0.8%), South (1.8%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 481 (2.36% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.46%), Europe (0.42%), Latin America (1.44%), North America (0.01%), Oceania (0.03%)

#5. Langlade County

- Population: 19,167
- Born in Wisconsin: 16,216 (84.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,505 (13.1% of population)
--- Midwest (7.7%), Northeast (1.0%), South (1.4%), West (3.0%)
- Born in another country: 298 (1.55% of population)
--- Africa (0.14%) , Asia (0.19%), Europe (0.65%), Latin America (0.52%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)

#4. Forest County

- Population: 9,003
- Born in Wisconsin: 7,653 (85.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,255 (13.9% of population)
--- Midwest (9.7%), Northeast (0.5%), South (2.0%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 74 (0.82% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.40%), Europe (0.29%), Latin America (0.13%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#3. Shawano County

- Population: 40,813
- Born in Wisconsin: 35,368 (86.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,756 (11.7% of population)
--- Midwest (7.1%), Northeast (0.9%), South (1.8%), West (1.9%)
- Born in another country: 513 (1.26% of population)
--- Africa (0.08%) , Asia (0.25%), Europe (0.34%), Latin America (0.54%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (0.00%)

#2. Oconto County

- Population: 37,870
- Born in Wisconsin: 33,019 (87.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,334 (11.4% of population)
--- Midwest (7.4%), Northeast (0.7%), South (1.6%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 349 (0.92% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.21%), Europe (0.30%), Latin America (0.37%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (0.00%)

#1. Menominee County

- Population: 4,566
- Born in Wisconsin: 4,233 (92.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 321 (7.0% of population)
--- Midwest (4.1%), Northeast (0.6%), South (1.2%), West (1.1%)
- Born in another country: 10 (0.22% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.18%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.04%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

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