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

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 in your home state, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Iowa using data from the Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents who were born in the state according to the latest data, which is 2024 five-year estimates. The percentage of residents who were born in another state, a U.S. territory, and another country is also included.

Read on to find out where the most loyal Iowa residents live.

50. Clay County
- Population: 16,461
- Born in Iowa: 12,365 (75.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,624 (22.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 63 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 409 (2.5% of population)

49. Cerro Gordo County
- Population: 42,632
- Born in Iowa: 32,086 (75.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 9,220 (21.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 231 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,095 (2.6% of population)

48. Clarke County
- Population: 9,662
- Born in Iowa: 7,273 (75.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,620 (16.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 131 (1.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 638 (6.6% of population)

47. Franklin County
- Population: 9,956
- Born in Iowa: 7,521 (75.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,532 (15.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 59 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 844 (8.5% of population)

46. Adams County
- Population: 3,622
- Born in Iowa: 2,747 (75.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 856 (23.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 19 (0.5% of population)

45. Kossuth County
- Population: 14,516
- Born in Iowa: 11,017 (75.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,972 (20.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 29 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 498 (3.4% of population)

44. Monona County
- Population: 8,557
- Born in Iowa: 6,535 (76.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,959 (22.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 6 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 57 (0.7% of population)

43. O'Brien County
- Population: 14,126
- Born in Iowa: 10,828 (76.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,385 (16.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 286 (2.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 627 (4.4% of population)

42. Hamilton County
- Population: 14,886
- Born in Iowa: 11,415 (76.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,282 (15.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 238 (1.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 951 (6.4% of population)

41. Plymouth County
- Population: 25,747
- Born in Iowa: 19,761 (76.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,836 (18.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 191 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 959 (3.7% of population)

40. Webster County
- Population: 36,886
- Born in Iowa: 28,376 (76.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,203 (19.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 188 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,119 (3.0% of population)

39. Pocahontas County
- Population: 7,046
- Born in Iowa: 5,449 (77.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,316 (18.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 59 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 222 (3.2% of population)

38. Madison County
- Population: 16,926
- Born in Iowa: 13,130 (77.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,428 (20.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 67 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 301 (1.8% of population)

37. Cherokee County
- Population: 11,600
- Born in Iowa: 9,017 (77.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,016 (17.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 154 (1.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 413 (3.6% of population)

36. Louisa County
- Population: 10,678
- Born in Iowa: 8,304 (77.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,327 (12.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 48 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 999 (9.4% of population)

35. Marion County
- Population: 33,642
- Born in Iowa: 26,286 (78.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,451 (19.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 204 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 701 (2.1% of population)

34. Washington County
- Population: 22,561
- Born in Iowa: 17,654 (78.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,075 (18.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 102 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 730 (3.2% of population)

33. Mahaska County
- Population: 22,021
- Born in Iowa: 17,257 (78.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,144 (18.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 128 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 492 (2.2% of population)

32. Ida County
- Population: 6,911
- Born in Iowa: 5,421 (78.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,280 (18.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 33 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 177 (2.6% of population)

31. Jackson County
- Population: 19,390
- Born in Iowa: 15,251 (78.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,949 (20.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 36 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 154 (0.8% of population)

30. Hancock County
- Population: 10,671
- Born in Iowa: 8,405 (78.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,006 (18.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 31 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 229 (2.1% of population)

29. Jasper County
- Population: 37,954
- Born in Iowa: 29,914 (78.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,637 (17.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 350 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,053 (2.8% of population)

28. Hardin County
- Population: 16,639
- Born in Iowa: 13,138 (79.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,706 (16.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 191 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 604 (3.6% of population)

27. Tama County
- Population: 16,868
- Born in Iowa: 13,343 (79.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,784 (16.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 56 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 685 (4.1% of population)

26. Warren County
- Population: 54,409
- Born in Iowa: 43,072 (79.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 10,158 (18.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 356 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 823 (1.5% of population)

25. Fayette County
- Population: 19,288
- Born in Iowa: 15,312 (79.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,502 (18.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 67 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 407 (2.1% of population)

24. Boone County
- Population: 26,668
- Born in Iowa: 21,216 (79.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,984 (18.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 76 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 392 (1.5% of population)

23. Wright County
- Population: 12,791
- Born in Iowa: 10,182 (79.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,739 (13.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 33 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 837 (6.5% of population)

22. Jones County
- Population: 20,896
- Born in Iowa: 16,692 (79.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,737 (17.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 129 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 338 (1.6% of population)

21. Humboldt County
- Population: 9,591
- Born in Iowa: 7,662 (79.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,479 (15.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 29 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 421 (4.4% of population)

20. Palo Alto County
- Population: 8,863
- Born in Iowa: 7,101 (80.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,485 (16.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 59 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 218 (2.5% of population)

19. Floyd County
- Population: 15,328
- Born in Iowa: 12,281 (80.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,660 (17.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 18 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 369 (2.4% of population)

18. Greene County
- Population: 8,688
- Born in Iowa: 6,972 (80.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,578 (18.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 12 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 126 (1.5% of population)

17. Bremer County
- Population: 25,204
- Born in Iowa: 20,414 (81.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,277 (17.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 110 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 403 (1.6% of population)

16. Monroe County
- Population: 7,513
- Born in Iowa: 6,098 (81.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,247 (16.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 112 (1.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 56 (0.7% of population)

15. Carroll County
- Population: 20,594
- Born in Iowa: 16,718 (81.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,471 (16.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 82 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 323 (1.6% of population)

14. Guthrie County
- Population: 10,688
- Born in Iowa: 8,701 (81.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,759 (16.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 27 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 201 (1.9% of population)

13. Sac County
- Population: 9,689
- Born in Iowa: 7,891 (81.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,522 (15.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 48 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 228 (2.4% of population)

12. Calhoun County
- Population: 9,803
- Born in Iowa: 7,987 (81.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,693 (17.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 27 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 96 (1.0% of population)

11. Adair County
- Population: 7,460
- Born in Iowa: 6,089 (81.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,242 (16.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 7 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 122 (1.6% of population)

10. Cedar County
- Population: 18,349
- Born in Iowa: 14,980 (81.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,149 (17.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 56 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 164 (0.9% of population)

9. Iowa County
- Population: 16,507
- Born in Iowa: 13,551 (82.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,731 (16.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 59 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 166 (1.0% of population)

8. Audubon County
- Population: 5,599
- Born in Iowa: 4,606 (82.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 886 (15.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 14 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 93 (1.7% of population)

7. Chickasaw County
- Population: 11,807
- Born in Iowa: 9,773 (82.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,668 (14.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 15 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 351 (3.0% of population)

6. Benton County
- Population: 25,724
- Born in Iowa: 21,739 (84.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,659 (14.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 110 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 216 (0.8% of population)

5. Keokuk County
- Population: 9,924
- Born in Iowa: 8,564 (86.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,244 (12.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 15 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 101 (1.0% of population)

4. Grundy County
- Population: 12,384
- Born in Iowa: 10,714 (86.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,430 (11.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 26 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 214 (1.7% of population)

3. Buchanan County
- Population: 20,694
- Born in Iowa: 17,918 (86.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,480 (12.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 35 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 261 (1.3% of population)

2. Butler County
- Population: 14,268
- Born in Iowa: 12,398 (86.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,512 (10.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 35 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 323 (2.3% of population)

1. Delaware County
- Population: 17,558
- Born in Iowa: 15,420 (87.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,010 (11.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 71 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 57 (0.3% of population)

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