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

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 Kansas 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 Kansas residents live.

50. Pawnee County
- Population: 6,144
- Born in Kansas: 4,335 (70.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,681 (27.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 81 (1.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 47 (0.8% of population)

49. Shawnee County
- Population: 178,025
- Born in Kansas: 125,830 (70.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 42,915 (24.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,994 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 7,286 (4.1% of population)

48. Lane County
- Population: 1,461
- Born in Kansas: 1,038 (71.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 318 (21.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 12 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 93 (6.4% of population)

47. Saline County
- Population: 53,668
- Born in Kansas: 38,193 (71.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 12,430 (23.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 564 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,481 (4.6% of population)

46. Brown County
- Population: 9,343
- Born in Kansas: 6,651 (71.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,539 (27.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 45 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 108 (1.2% of population)

45. Harper County
- Population: 5,400
- Born in Kansas: 3,870 (71.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,407 (26.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 18 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 105 (1.9% of population)

44. Thomas County
- Population: 7,885
- Born in Kansas: 5,704 (72.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,836 (23.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 18 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 327 (4.1% of population)

43. Republic County
- Population: 4,646
- Born in Kansas: 3,361 (72.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,189 (25.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 9 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 87 (1.9% of population)

42. Gray County
- Population: 5,701
- Born in Kansas: 4,132 (72.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 937 (16.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 41 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 591 (10.4% of population)

41. Comanche County
- Population: 1,729
- Born in Kansas: 1,261 (72.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 443 (25.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 11 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 14 (0.8% of population)

40. Harvey County
- Population: 33,756
- Born in Kansas: 24,621 (72.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,556 (22.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 267 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,312 (3.9% of population)

39. Morris County
- Population: 5,340
- Born in Kansas: 3,904 (73.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,251 (23.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 74 (1.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 111 (2.1% of population)

38. Mitchell County
- Population: 5,779
- Born in Kansas: 4,241 (73.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,450 (25.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 13 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 75 (1.3% of population)

37. Clay County
- Population: 8,048
- Born in Kansas: 5,915 (73.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,981 (24.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 78 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 74 (0.9% of population)

36. Cloud County
- Population: 8,898
- Born in Kansas: 6,543 (73.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,152 (24.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 67 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 136 (1.5% of population)

35. Rush County
- Population: 2,947
- Born in Kansas: 2,174 (73.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 738 (25.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 32 (1.1% of population)

34. Pratt County
- Population: 9,127
- Born in Kansas: 6,756 (74.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,081 (22.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 48 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 242 (2.7% of population)

33. Ness County
- Population: 2,653
- Born in Kansas: 1,967 (74.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 447 (16.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 6 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 233 (8.8% of population)

32. Sumner County
- Population: 22,353
- Born in Kansas: 16,592 (74.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,409 (24.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 58 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 294 (1.3% of population)

31. Wabaunsee County
- Population: 7,009
- Born in Kansas: 5,203 (74.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,650 (23.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 71 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 85 (1.2% of population)

30. Stafford County
- Population: 3,978
- Born in Kansas: 2,956 (74.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 829 (20.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 7 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 186 (4.7% of population)

29. Rooks County
- Population: 4,813
- Born in Kansas: 3,579 (74.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,153 (24.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 37 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 44 (0.9% of population)

28. Russell County
- Population: 6,679
- Born in Kansas: 4,977 (74.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,541 (23.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 50 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 111 (1.7% of population)

27. Graham County
- Population: 2,389
- Born in Kansas: 1,786 (74.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 590 (24.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 13 (0.5% of population)

26. Osborne County
- Population: 3,452
- Born in Kansas: 2,585 (74.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 800 (23.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 13 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 54 (1.6% of population)

25. Reno County
- Population: 61,553
- Born in Kansas: 46,161 (75.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 13,598 (22.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 412 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,382 (2.2% of population)

24. Chase County
- Population: 2,561
- Born in Kansas: 1,921 (75.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 494 (19.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 40 (1.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 106 (4.1% of population)

23. Marshall County
- Population: 9,993
- Born in Kansas: 7,496 (75.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,368 (23.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 54 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 75 (0.8% of population)

22. Greenwood County
- Population: 5,919
- Born in Kansas: 4,446 (75.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,401 (23.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 34 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 38 (0.6% of population)

21. Gove County
- Population: 2,799
- Born in Kansas: 2,104 (75.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 645 (23.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 9 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 41 (1.5% of population)

20. Barber County
- Population: 4,069
- Born in Kansas: 3,061 (75.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 970 (23.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 27 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 11 (0.3% of population)

19. Jackson County
- Population: 13,341
- Born in Kansas: 10,091 (75.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,692 (20.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 126 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 432 (3.2% of population)

18. Wilson County
- Population: 8,505
- Born in Kansas: 6,452 (75.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,849 (21.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 47 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 157 (1.8% of population)

17. Anderson County
- Population: 7,834
- Born in Kansas: 5,947 (75.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,788 (22.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 66 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 33 (0.4% of population)

16. Ellis County
- Population: 28,920
- Born in Kansas: 22,006 (76.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,087 (21.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 127 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 700 (2.4% of population)

15. Jefferson County
- Population: 18,349
- Born in Kansas: 13,983 (76.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,097 (22.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 90 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 179 (1.0% of population)

14. Barton County
- Population: 25,097
- Born in Kansas: 19,205 (76.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,435 (17.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 214 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,243 (5.0% of population)

13. Osage County
- Population: 15,744
- Born in Kansas: 12,057 (76.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,479 (22.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 70 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 138 (0.9% of population)

12. Marion County
- Population: 11,754
- Born in Kansas: 9,004 (76.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,585 (22.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 42 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 123 (1.0% of population)

11. Ellsworth County
- Population: 6,360
- Born in Kansas: 4,891 (76.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,346 (21.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 20 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 103 (1.6% of population)

10. Neosho County
- Population: 15,656
- Born in Kansas: 12,044 (76.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,306 (21.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 61 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 245 (1.6% of population)

9. Woodson County
- Population: 3,109
- Born in Kansas: 2,430 (78.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 666 (21.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 13 (0.4% of population)

8. Lincoln County
- Population: 2,923
- Born in Kansas: 2,294 (78.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 588 (20.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 20 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 21 (0.7% of population)

7. Allen County
- Population: 12,483
- Born in Kansas: 9,856 (79.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,206 (17.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 20 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 401 (3.2% of population)

6. Trego County
- Population: 2,777
- Born in Kansas: 2,196 (79.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 565 (20.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 5 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 11 (0.4% of population)

5. Hodgeman County
- Population: 1,652
- Born in Kansas: 1,317 (79.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 288 (17.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 25 (1.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 22 (1.3% of population)

4. Kingman County
- Population: 7,186
- Born in Kansas: 5,741 (79.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,370 (19.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 57 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 18 (0.3% of population)

3. Nemaha County
- Population: 10,160
- Born in Kansas: 8,154 (80.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,904 (18.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 4 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 98 (1.0% of population)

2. Sheridan County
- Population: 2,426
- Born in Kansas: 1,951 (80.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 403 (16.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 7 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 65 (2.7% of population)

1. Ottawa County
- Population: 5,819
- Born in Kansas: 4,701 (80.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,058 (18.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 21 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 39 (0.7% of population)