Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Montana
Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Montana
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 Sun Belt states where the weather is warmer and the cost of living significantly lower.
But by the second year of the pandemic, it became clear that not everyone who was moving wanted to go far. A 2024 analysis of movement out of crowded cities from the U.S. Census Bureau showed that many people leaving city centers moved to far outer suburbs in the same metro area. In the Phoenix metro area, for example, growth rates are higher in more distant suburbs of Maricopa, Casa Grande, Coolidge, and Eloy compared to Scottsdale and Mesa.
According to the latest data from the Census Bureau, released in September 2023, 53.5% of people who moved in 2022 did so within the same county and an additional 24.3% remained in state, meaning more than three-quarters of movers stuck close to home.
Many young people in particular are remaining in the state, town, or even house that they grew up in. Before the pandemic, the number of younger adults living with their parents was on the rise and those patterns have continued. A late 2023 survey released by Lending Tree found that 57% of millennials and Gen Zers live in their hometowns.
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 Montana 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 2023 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 Montana residents live.
#56. Sanders County
- Population: 12,936
- Born in Montana: 4,489 (34.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,182 (63.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 32 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 233 (1.8% of population)
#55. Ravalli County
- Population: 45,807
- Born in Montana: 16,151 (35.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 27,905 (60.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 559 (1.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,192 (2.6% of population)
#54. Park County
- Population: 17,484
- Born in Montana: 6,415 (36.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 10,477 (59.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 185 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 407 (2.3% of population)
#53. Gallatin County
- Population: 122,194
- Born in Montana: 45,423 (37.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 70,638 (57.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,174 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 4,959 (4.1% of population)
#52. Mineral County
- Population: 4,796
- Born in Montana: 1,808 (37.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,842 (59.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 68 (1.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 78 (1.6% of population)
#51. Madison County
- Population: 8,975
- Born in Montana: 3,409 (38.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,283 (58.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 31 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 252 (2.8% of population)
#50. Carter County
- Population: 1,361
- Born in Montana: 533 (39.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 823 (60.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 5 (0.4% of population)
#49. Musselshell County
- Population: 5,068
- Born in Montana: 2,167 (42.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,761 (54.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 46 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 94 (1.9% of population)
#48. Lincoln County
- Population: 20,656
- Born in Montana: 8,854 (42.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 10,999 (53.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 96 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 707 (3.4% of population)
#47. Flathead County
- Population: 108,445
- Born in Montana: 49,857 (46.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 54,369 (50.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,016 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,203 (3.0% of population)
#46. Broadwater County
- Population: 7,310
- Born in Montana: 3,416 (46.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,789 (51.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 105 (1.4% of population)
#45. Missoula County
- Population: 119,639
- Born in Montana: 56,233 (47.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 59,001 (49.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,005 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,400 (2.8% of population)
#44. Carbon County
- Population: 10,877
- Born in Montana: 5,115 (47.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,567 (51.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 67 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 128 (1.2% of population)
#43. Granite County
- Population: 3,419
- Born in Montana: 1,673 (48.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,658 (48.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 17 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 71 (2.1% of population)
#42. Meagher County
- Population: 1,979
- Born in Montana: 995 (50.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 923 (46.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 7 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 54 (2.7% of population)
#41. Jefferson County
- Population: 12,501
- Born in Montana: 6,286 (50.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,863 (46.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 82 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 270 (2.2% of population)
#40. Wibaux County
- Population: 1,148
- Born in Montana: 585 (51.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 519 (45.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 44 (3.8% of population)
#39. Stillwater County
- Population: 9,052
- Born in Montana: 4,685 (51.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,231 (46.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 34 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 102 (1.1% of population)
#38. Beaverhead County
- Population: 9,590
- Born in Montana: 4,996 (52.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,470 (46.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 50 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 74 (0.8% of population)
#37. Powder River County
- Population: 1,762
- Born in Montana: 927 (52.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 786 (44.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 14 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 35 (2.0% of population)
#36. Lewis and Clark County
- Population: 72,580
- Born in Montana: 38,211 (52.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 32,458 (44.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 556 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,355 (1.9% of population)
#35. Sheridan County
- Population: 3,677
- Born in Montana: 1,940 (52.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,567 (42.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 96 (2.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 74 (2.0% of population)
#34. Sweet Grass County
- Population: 3,713
- Born in Montana: 1,960 (52.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,686 (45.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 26 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 41 (1.1% of population)
#33. Lake County
- Population: 32,073
- Born in Montana: 17,105 (53.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 13,944 (43.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 281 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 743 (2.3% of population)
#32. Powell County
- Population: 7,029
- Born in Montana: 3,897 (55.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,858 (40.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 148 (2.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 126 (1.8% of population)
#31. Petroleum County
- Population: 401
- Born in Montana: 227 (56.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 169 (42.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 4 (1.0% of population)
#30. Cascade County
- Population: 84,601
- Born in Montana: 48,833 (57.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 32,687 (38.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,437 (1.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,644 (1.9% of population)
#29. Yellowstone County
- Population: 167,340
- Born in Montana: 98,316 (58.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 64,893 (38.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,059 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,072 (1.8% of population)
#28. Richland County
- Population: 11,329
- Born in Montana: 6,719 (59.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,140 (36.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 149 (1.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 321 (2.8% of population)
#27. Dawson County
- Population: 8,874
- Born in Montana: 5,286 (59.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,395 (38.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 44 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 149 (1.7% of population)
#26. Golden Valley County
- Population: 840
- Born in Montana: 502 (59.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 326 (38.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 7 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 5 (0.6% of population)
#25. Wheatland County
- Population: 2,049
- Born in Montana: 1,237 (60.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 783 (38.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 29 (1.4% of population)
#24. Treasure County
- Population: 761
- Born in Montana: 460 (60.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 273 (35.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 13 (1.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 15 (2.0% of population)
#23. Toole County
- Population: 5,028
- Born in Montana: 3,078 (61.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,730 (34.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 48 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 172 (3.4% of population)
#22. Fallon County
- Population: 2,817
- Born in Montana: 1,741 (61.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 996 (35.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 21 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 59 (2.1% of population)
#21. Teton County
- Population: 6,291
- Born in Montana: 3,967 (63.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,231 (35.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 70 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 23 (0.4% of population)
#20. Deer Lodge County
- Population: 9,512
- Born in Montana: 6,004 (63.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,403 (35.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 49 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 56 (0.6% of population)
#19. Custer County
- Population: 11,938
- Born in Montana: 7,618 (63.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,077 (34.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 55 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 188 (1.6% of population)
#18. Daniels County
- Population: 1,524
- Born in Montana: 986 (64.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 506 (33.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 32 (2.1% of population)
#17. Rosebud County
- Population: 8,236
- Born in Montana: 5,372 (65.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,726 (33.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 15 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 123 (1.5% of population)
#16. Fergus County
- Population: 11,581
- Born in Montana: 7,573 (65.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,779 (32.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 27 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 202 (1.7% of population)
#15. Judith Basin County
- Population: 2,053
- Born in Montana: 1,412 (68.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 594 (28.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 12 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 35 (1.7% of population)
#14. Silver Bow County
- Population: 35,589
- Born in Montana: 24,667 (69.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 10,188 (28.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 228 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 506 (1.4% of population)
#13. Prairie County
- Population: 1,251
- Born in Montana: 879 (70.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 266 (21.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 20 (1.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 86 (6.9% of population)
#12. McCone County
- Population: 1,818
- Born in Montana: 1,281 (70.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 511 (28.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 26 (1.4% of population)
#11. Valley County
- Population: 7,540
- Born in Montana: 5,372 (71.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,068 (27.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 28 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 72 (1.0% of population)
#10. Chouteau County
- Population: 5,888
- Born in Montana: 4,261 (72.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,461 (24.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 99 (1.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 67 (1.1% of population)
#9. Pondera County
- Population: 6,012
- Born in Montana: 4,358 (72.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,533 (25.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 20 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 101 (1.7% of population)
#8. Hill County
- Population: 16,260
- Born in Montana: 12,372 (76.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,706 (22.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 53 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 129 (0.8% of population)
#7. Garfield County
- Population: 938
- Born in Montana: 714 (76.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 224 (23.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 0 (0.0% of population)
#6. Big Horn County
- Population: 12,963
- Born in Montana: 9,937 (76.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,957 (22.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 69 (0.5% of population)
#5. Phillips County
- Population: 4,224
- Born in Montana: 3,290 (77.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 852 (20.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 17 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 65 (1.5% of population)
#4. Roosevelt County
- Population: 10,665
- Born in Montana: 8,467 (79.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,062 (19.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 16 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 120 (1.1% of population)
#3. Glacier County
- Population: 13,713
- Born in Montana: 11,061 (80.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,398 (17.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 163 (1.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 91 (0.7% of population)
#2. Liberty County
- Population: 1,968
- Born in Montana: 1,638 (83.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 282 (14.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 13 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 35 (1.8% of population)
#1. Blaine County
- Population: 6,997
- Born in Montana: 5,898 (84.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 999 (14.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 21 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 79 (1.1% of population)
