Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in West Virginia

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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia residents live.

55. Jefferson County
- Population: 59,260
- Born in West Virginia: 14,999 (25.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 40,303 (68.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 947 (1.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,011 (5.1% of population)

54. Mineral County
- Population: 26,854
- Born in West Virginia: 7,541 (28.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 18,967 (70.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 210 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 136 (0.5% of population)

53. Hampshire County
- Population: 23,465
- Born in West Virginia: 6,605 (28.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 16,380 (69.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 111 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 369 (1.6% of population)

52. Morgan County
- Population: 17,426
- Born in West Virginia: 5,933 (34.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 11,188 (64.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 89 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 216 (1.2% of population)

51. Berkeley County
- Population: 129,514
- Born in West Virginia: 45,520 (35.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 76,302 (58.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,181 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 6,511 (5.0% of population)

50. Hardy County
- Population: 14,243
- Born in West Virginia: 5,547 (38.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,154 (57.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 250 (1.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 292 (2.1% of population)

49. Hancock County
- Population: 28,431
- Born in West Virginia: 11,877 (41.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 16,218 (57.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 72 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 264 (0.9% of population)

48. Pendleton County
- Population: 6,043
- Born in West Virginia: 2,766 (45.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,222 (53.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 49 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 6 (0.1% of population)

47. Monongalia County
- Population: 107,163
- Born in West Virginia: 60,513 (56.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 39,908 (37.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,006 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 5,736 (5.4% of population)

46. Brooke County
- Population: 21,805
- Born in West Virginia: 12,339 (56.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,957 (41.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 177 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 332 (1.5% of population)

45. Grant County
- Population: 10,983
- Born in West Virginia: 6,325 (57.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,537 (41.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 39 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 82 (0.7% of population)

44. Gilmer County
- Population: 7,288
- Born in West Virginia: 4,234 (58.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,724 (37.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 82 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 248 (3.4% of population)

43. Monroe County
- Population: 12,386
- Born in West Virginia: 7,619 (61.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,749 (38.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 8 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 10 (0.1% of population)

42. Mason County
- Population: 25,043
- Born in West Virginia: 16,200 (64.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,697 (34.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 84 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 62 (0.2% of population)

41. Preston County
- Population: 34,160
- Born in West Virginia: 22,354 (65.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 11,072 (32.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 200 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 534 (1.6% of population)

40. Ohio County
- Population: 41,582
- Born in West Virginia: 27,660 (66.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 12,710 (30.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 154 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,058 (2.5% of population)

39. Pleasants County
- Population: 7,521
- Born in West Virginia: 5,030 (66.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,455 (32.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 36 (0.5% of population)

38. Mingo County
- Population: 22,542
- Born in West Virginia: 15,225 (67.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,271 (32.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 45 (0.2% of population)

37. Greenbrier County
- Population: 32,386
- Born in West Virginia: 22,451 (69.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 9,184 (28.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 178 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 573 (1.8% of population)

36. Tucker County
- Population: 6,654
- Born in West Virginia: 4,630 (69.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,927 (29.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 39 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 58 (0.9% of population)

35. Summers County
- Population: 11,729
- Born in West Virginia: 8,194 (69.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,368 (28.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 53 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 114 (1.0% of population)

34. Doddridge County
- Population: 7,711
- Born in West Virginia: 5,457 (70.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,081 (27.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 51 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 122 (1.6% of population)

33. Pocahontas County
- Population: 7,784
- Born in West Virginia: 5,604 (72.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,108 (27.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 28 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 44 (0.6% of population)

32. Wood County
- Population: 83,407
- Born in West Virginia: 60,163 (72.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 22,127 (26.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 258 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 859 (1.0% of population)

31. McDowell County
- Population: 17,943
- Born in West Virginia: 13,228 (73.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,377 (24.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 43 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 295 (1.6% of population)

30. Cabell County
- Population: 92,739
- Born in West Virginia: 68,844 (74.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 21,701 (23.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 598 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,596 (1.7% of population)

29. Mercer County
- Population: 58,563
- Born in West Virginia: 43,846 (74.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 14,055 (24.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 292 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 370 (0.6% of population)

28. Taylor County
- Population: 16,487
- Born in West Virginia: 12,422 (75.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,974 (24.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 29 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 62 (0.4% of population)

27. Calhoun County
- Population: 6,048
- Born in West Virginia: 4,583 (75.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,440 (23.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 22 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 3 (0.0% of population)

26. Wayne County
- Population: 38,164
- Born in West Virginia: 28,991 (76.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,769 (23.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 167 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 237 (0.6% of population)

25. Raleigh County
- Population: 73,195
- Born in West Virginia: 55,654 (76.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 16,169 (22.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 268 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,104 (1.5% of population)

24. Marion County
- Population: 55,909
- Born in West Virginia: 42,743 (76.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 12,463 (22.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 228 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 475 (0.8% of population)

23. Upshur County
- Population: 23,712
- Born in West Virginia: 18,198 (76.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,180 (21.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 118 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 216 (0.9% of population)

22. Braxton County
- Population: 12,208
- Born in West Virginia: 9,389 (76.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,777 (22.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 30 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 12 (0.1% of population)

21. Tyler County
- Population: 8,064
- Born in West Virginia: 6,216 (77.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,800 (22.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 47 (0.6% of population)

20. Barbour County
- Population: 15,424
- Born in West Virginia: 11,898 (77.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,347 (21.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 123 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 56 (0.4% of population)

19. Clay County
- Population: 7,835
- Born in West Virginia: 6,066 (77.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,767 (22.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 2 (0.0% of population)

18. Jackson County
- Population: 27,705
- Born in West Virginia: 21,542 (77.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,465 (19.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 124 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 574 (2.1% of population)

17. Wirt County
- Population: 5,053
- Born in West Virginia: 3,943 (78.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,061 (21.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 38 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 11 (0.2% of population)

16. Wetzel County
- Population: 14,078
- Born in West Virginia: 11,021 (78.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,965 (21.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 41 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 51 (0.4% of population)

15. Marshall County
- Population: 29,865
- Born in West Virginia: 23,417 (78.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,214 (20.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 68 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 166 (0.6% of population)

14. Putnam County
- Population: 57,177
- Born in West Virginia: 45,029 (78.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 11,024 (19.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 332 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 792 (1.4% of population)

13. Randolph County
- Population: 27,576
- Born in West Virginia: 21,785 (79.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,563 (20.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 98 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 130 (0.5% of population)

12. Roane County
- Population: 13,786
- Born in West Virginia: 10,943 (79.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,675 (19.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 94 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 74 (0.5% of population)

11. Ritchie County
- Population: 8,286
- Born in West Virginia: 6,586 (79.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,580 (19.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 120 (1.4% of population)

10. Fayette County
- Population: 39,519
- Born in West Virginia: 31,454 (79.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,834 (19.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 128 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 103 (0.3% of population)

9. Harrison County
- Population: 64,984
- Born in West Virginia: 52,078 (80.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 11,864 (18.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 255 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 787 (1.2% of population)

8. Kanawha County
- Population: 176,537
- Born in West Virginia: 142,317 (80.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 29,794 (16.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 895 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,531 (2.0% of population)

7. Lewis County
- Population: 16,740
- Born in West Virginia: 13,809 (82.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,829 (16.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 53 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 49 (0.3% of population)

6. Nicholas County
- Population: 24,277
- Born in West Virginia: 20,040 (82.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,800 (15.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 38 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 399 (1.6% of population)

5. Boone County
- Population: 21,026
- Born in West Virginia: 17,921 (85.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,992 (14.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 17 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 96 (0.5% of population)

4. Webster County
- Population: 8,144
- Born in West Virginia: 6,959 (85.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,155 (14.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 30 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 0 (0.0% of population)

3. Logan County
- Population: 31,418
- Born in West Virginia: 27,371 (87.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,857 (12.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 68 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 122 (0.4% of population)

2. Lincoln County
- Population: 19,902
- Born in West Virginia: 17,370 (87.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,284 (11.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 155 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 93 (0.5% of population)

1. Wyoming County
- Population: 20,629
- Born in West Virginia: 18,041 (87.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,528 (12.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 22 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 38 (0.2% of population)