Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Texas
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 Texas 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.
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#50. Colorado County
- Population: 21,357
- Born in Texas: 16,830 (78.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,194 (10.3% of population)
--- Midwest (2.2%), Northeast (0.9%), South (4.2%), West (2.9%)
- Born in another country: 2,218 (10.39% of population)
--- Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.58%), Europe (0.76%), Latin America (8.84%), North America (0.17%), Oceania (0.00%)
#49. Falls County
- Population: 17,281
- Born in Texas: 13,658 (79.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,466 (14.3% of population)
--- Midwest (4.6%), Northeast (1.7%), South (3.5%), West (4.5%)
- Born in another country: 960 (5.56% of population)
--- Africa (0.10%) , Asia (0.34%), Europe (0.52%), Latin America (4.54%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)
#48. Dimmit County
- Population: 10,232
- Born in Texas: 8,093 (79.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,028 (10.0% of population)
--- Midwest (5.6%), Northeast (0.4%), South (1.9%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 1,111 (10.86% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.91%), Europe (0.08%), Latin America (9.87%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#47. Menard County
- Population: 2,108
- Born in Texas: 1,683 (79.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 275 (13.0% of population)
--- Midwest (2.1%), Northeast (2.0%), South (6.5%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 149 (7.07% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.62%), Latin America (5.36%), North America (0.81%), Oceania (0.28%)
#46. Victoria County
- Population: 92,044
- Born in Texas: 73,515 (79.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 11,374 (12.4% of population)
--- Midwest (3.3%), Northeast (1.4%), South (4.9%), West (2.8%)
- Born in another country: 6,362 (6.91% of population)
--- Africa (0.07%) , Asia (0.98%), Europe (0.29%), Latin America (5.46%), North America (0.09%), Oceania (0.03%)
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#45. Coleman County
- Population: 8,281
- Born in Texas: 6,617 (79.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,202 (14.5% of population)
--- Midwest (4.7%), Northeast (0.9%), South (4.6%), West (4.2%)
- Born in another country: 448 (5.41% of population)
--- Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.35%), Europe (0.33%), Latin America (4.70%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#44. Jackson County
- Population: 14,822
- Born in Texas: 11,858 (80.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,815 (12.2% of population)
--- Midwest (3.8%), Northeast (0.6%), South (6.2%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 1,010 (6.81% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.36%), Europe (0.09%), Latin America (6.17%), North America (0.14%), Oceania (0.05%)
#43. Haskell County
- Population: 5,711
- Born in Texas: 4,578 (80.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 635 (11.1% of population)
--- Midwest (1.3%), Northeast (0.7%), South (5.0%), West (4.2%)
- Born in another country: 494 (8.65% of population)
--- Africa (0.11%) , Asia (0.42%), Europe (0.12%), Latin America (7.91%), North America (0.09%), Oceania (0.00%)
#42. Freestone County
- Population: 19,744
- Born in Texas: 15,868 (80.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,383 (12.1% of population)
--- Midwest (2.5%), Northeast (1.1%), South (4.8%), West (3.7%)
- Born in another country: 1,330 (6.74% of population)
--- Africa (0.37%) , Asia (0.47%), Europe (0.44%), Latin America (5.46%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#41. Atascosa County
- Population: 50,194
- Born in Texas: 40,399 (80.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,680 (11.3% of population)
--- Midwest (4.4%), Northeast (0.9%), South (3.5%), West (2.6%)
- Born in another country: 3,729 (7.43% of population)
--- Africa (0.15%) , Asia (0.36%), Europe (0.21%), Latin America (6.68%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#40. Stephens County
- Population: 9,358
- Born in Texas: 7,550 (80.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,225 (13.1% of population)
--- Midwest (2.0%), Northeast (0.2%), South (7.9%), West (3.0%)
- Born in another country: 398 (4.25% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.45%), Europe (0.12%), Latin America (3.69%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#39. Kleberg County
- Population: 30,725
- Born in Texas: 24,861 (80.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,422 (11.1% of population)
--- Midwest (3.2%), Northeast (1.3%), South (3.9%), West (2.8%)
- Born in another country: 2,063 (6.71% of population)
--- Africa (0.34%) , Asia (2.35%), Europe (0.16%), Latin America (3.87%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#38. Runnels County
- Population: 10,280
- Born in Texas: 8,325 (81.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,439 (14.0% of population)
--- Midwest (3.6%), Northeast (1.6%), South (3.6%), West (5.2%)
- Born in another country: 413 (4.02% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.07%), Europe (0.05%), Latin America (3.87%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.00%)
#37. Wharton County
- Population: 41,672
- Born in Texas: 33,773 (81.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,812 (9.1% of population)
--- Midwest (1.9%), Northeast (1.4%), South (3.7%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 3,950 (9.48% of population)
--- Africa (0.06%) , Asia (0.12%), Europe (0.18%), Latin America (9.05%), North America (0.07%), Oceania (0.00%)
#36. Red River County
- Population: 12,115
- Born in Texas: 9,829 (81.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,818 (15.0% of population)
--- Midwest (2.4%), Northeast (1.1%), South (8.6%), West (3.0%)
- Born in another country: 206 (1.70% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.05%), Europe (0.35%), Latin America (1.25%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#35. Edwards County
- Population: 1,944
- Born in Texas: 1,579 (81.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 246 (12.7% of population)
--- Midwest (3.1%), Northeast (1.5%), South (3.2%), West (4.7%)
- Born in another country: 118 (6.07% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.87%), Latin America (5.20%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#34. Mitchell County
- Population: 8,256
- Born in Texas: 6,709 (81.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,245 (15.1% of population)
--- Midwest (3.4%), Northeast (0.2%), South (6.0%), West (5.5%)
- Born in another country: 293 (3.55% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.05%), Latin America (3.50%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#33. Irion County
- Population: 1,553
- Born in Texas: 1,263 (81.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 204 (13.1% of population)
--- Midwest (1.2%), Northeast (1.0%), South (5.5%), West (5.4%)
- Born in another country: 72 (4.64% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (4.64%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#32. Sutton County
- Population: 3,793
- Born in Texas: 3,089 (81.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 159 (4.2% of population)
--- Midwest (0.5%), Northeast (0.2%), South (2.0%), West (1.5%)
- Born in another country: 484 (12.76% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.24%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (12.52%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#31. La Salle County
- Population: 7,551
- Born in Texas: 6,171 (81.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 773 (10.2% of population)
--- Midwest (4.0%), Northeast (2.6%), South (1.2%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 544 (7.20% of population)
--- Africa (0.12%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (7.09%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#30. San Saba County
- Population: 6,004
- Born in Texas: 4,912 (81.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 663 (11.0% of population)
--- Midwest (3.1%), Northeast (1.2%), South (2.5%), West (4.3%)
- Born in another country: 409 (6.81% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.12%), Europe (0.17%), Latin America (6.53%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#29. Houston County
- Population: 22,942
- Born in Texas: 18,799 (81.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,366 (14.7% of population)
--- Midwest (3.2%), Northeast (1.6%), South (6.2%), West (3.7%)
- Born in another country: 678 (2.96% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.36%), Europe (0.40%), Latin America (2.05%), North America (0.09%), Oceania (0.06%)
#28. Martin County
- Population: 5,676
- Born in Texas: 4,652 (82.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 575 (10.1% of population)
--- Midwest (2.5%), Northeast (0.3%), South (5.9%), West (1.4%)
- Born in another country: 449 (7.91% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.05%), Europe (0.67%), Latin America (7.19%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#27. Baylor County
- Population: 3,560
- Born in Texas: 2,919 (82.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 474 (13.3% of population)
--- Midwest (2.7%), Northeast (1.5%), South (5.3%), West (3.8%)
- Born in another country: 131 (3.68% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (1.26%), Europe (0.56%), Latin America (1.85%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#26. Motley County
- Population: 1,362
- Born in Texas: 1,119 (82.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 243 (17.8% of population)
--- Midwest (4.9%), Northeast (2.5%), South (2.9%), West (7.6%)
- Born in another country: 0 (0.00% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.00%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#25. Jasper County
- Population: 35,562
- Born in Texas: 29,279 (82.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,935 (13.9% of population)
--- Midwest (2.1%), Northeast (0.8%), South (7.7%), West (3.3%)
- Born in another country: 1,179 (3.32% of population)
--- Africa (0.44%) , Asia (0.37%), Europe (0.44%), Latin America (1.68%), North America (0.38%), Oceania (0.00%)
#24. Robertson County
- Population: 17,094
- Born in Texas: 14,087 (82.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,164 (12.7% of population)
--- Midwest (2.3%), Northeast (0.6%), South (5.6%), West (4.2%)
- Born in another country: 752 (4.40% of population)
--- Africa (0.39%) , Asia (0.35%), Europe (0.12%), Latin America (3.31%), North America (0.25%), Oceania (0.00%)
#23. Stonewall County
- Population: 1,412
- Born in Texas: 1,171 (82.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 220 (15.6% of population)
--- Midwest (7.3%), Northeast (0.6%), South (3.0%), West (4.7%)
- Born in another country: 21 (1.49% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (1.49%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#22. Mills County
- Population: 4,877
- Born in Texas: 4,048 (83.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 483 (9.9% of population)
--- Midwest (2.4%), Northeast (0.5%), South (2.8%), West (4.2%)
- Born in another country: 338 (6.93% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.12%), Europe (0.25%), Latin America (6.52%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.04%)
#21. Bee County
- Population: 32,609
- Born in Texas: 27,086 (83.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,227 (13.0% of population)
--- Midwest (4.2%), Northeast (0.8%), South (4.4%), West (3.6%)
- Born in another country: 1,062 (3.26% of population)
--- Africa (0.15%) , Asia (0.55%), Europe (0.31%), Latin America (2.17%), North America (0.08%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#20. Dawson County
- Population: 12,849
- Born in Texas: 10,678 (83.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,414 (11.0% of population)
--- Midwest (3.3%), Northeast (1.0%), South (3.7%), West (3.0%)
- Born in another country: 714 (5.56% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.05%), Latin America (5.46%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)
#19. Floyd County
- Population: 5,782
- Born in Texas: 4,827 (83.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 520 (9.0% of population)
--- Midwest (1.0%), Northeast (0.4%), South (2.7%), West (4.9%)
- Born in another country: 383 (6.62% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.07%), Europe (0.17%), Latin America (6.38%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#18. Crosby County
- Population: 5,753
- Born in Texas: 4,803 (83.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 616 (10.7% of population)
--- Midwest (1.7%), Northeast (1.3%), South (3.9%), West (3.8%)
- Born in another country: 264 (4.59% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.47%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (3.98%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.14%)
#17. Fisher County
- Population: 3,827
- Born in Texas: 3,197 (83.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 536 (14.0% of population)
--- Midwest (2.9%), Northeast (0.5%), South (5.6%), West (5.1%)
- Born in another country: 86 (2.25% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.31%), Europe (0.16%), Latin America (1.78%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#16. Delta County
- Population: 5,277
- Born in Texas: 4,423 (83.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 779 (14.8% of population)
--- Midwest (3.5%), Northeast (3.1%), South (5.6%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 54 (1.02% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.36%), Europe (0.13%), Latin America (0.53%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#15. Goliad County
- Population: 7,578
- Born in Texas: 6,355 (83.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 909 (12.0% of population)
--- Midwest (3.7%), Northeast (1.9%), South (3.2%), West (3.3%)
- Born in another country: 294 (3.88% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.21%), Europe (0.18%), Latin America (3.48%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#14. Brooks County
- Population: 7,100
- Born in Texas: 5,992 (84.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 368 (5.2% of population)
--- Midwest (1.6%), Northeast (0.3%), South (0.9%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 734 (10.34% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.34%), Europe (0.13%), Latin America (9.87%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#13. Shackelford County
- Population: 3,291
- Born in Texas: 2,782 (84.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 392 (11.9% of population)
--- Midwest (2.6%), Northeast (0.9%), South (5.5%), West (2.9%)
- Born in another country: 105 (3.19% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.36%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (2.83%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#12. Lavaca County
- Population: 20,072
- Born in Texas: 17,074 (85.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,077 (10.3% of population)
--- Midwest (4.0%), Northeast (0.9%), South (3.3%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 857 (4.27% of population)
--- Africa (0.05%) , Asia (0.26%), Europe (0.10%), Latin America (3.77%), North America (0.08%), Oceania (0.00%)
#11. Lynn County
- Population: 5,886
- Born in Texas: 5,008 (85.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 579 (9.8% of population)
--- Midwest (1.7%), Northeast (0.9%), South (3.0%), West (4.2%)
- Born in another country: 211 (3.58% of population)
--- Africa (0.10%) , Asia (0.03%), Europe (0.08%), Latin America (3.09%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.27%)
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#10. Cottle County
- Population: 1,624
- Born in Texas: 1,383 (85.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 225 (13.9% of population)
--- Midwest (1.4%), Northeast (1.8%), South (4.1%), West (6.6%)
- Born in another country: 4 (0.25% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.25%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#9. DeWitt County
- Population: 20,217
- Born in Texas: 17,222 (85.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,175 (10.8% of population)
--- Midwest (1.9%), Northeast (1.7%), South (3.9%), West (3.2%)
- Born in another country: 704 (3.48% of population)
--- Africa (0.17%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.10%), Latin America (3.10%), North America (0.11%), Oceania (0.00%)
#8. Foard County
- Population: 1,207
- Born in Texas: 1,049 (86.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 121 (10.0% of population)
--- Midwest (1.3%), Northeast (0.9%), South (3.6%), West (4.1%)
- Born in another country: 37 (3.07% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (3.07%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#7. Refugio County
- Population: 7,015
- Born in Texas: 6,097 (86.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 824 (11.7% of population)
--- Midwest (3.9%), Northeast (0.5%), South (5.4%), West (1.9%)
- Born in another country: 87 (1.24% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.19%), Europe (0.11%), Latin America (0.94%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#6. Zavala County
- Population: 11,930
- Born in Texas: 10,426 (87.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 721 (6.0% of population)
--- Midwest (2.5%), Northeast (0.1%), South (1.6%), West (1.9%)
- Born in another country: 667 (5.59% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.03%), Europe (0.16%), Latin America (5.41%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
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#5. McMullen County
- Population: 724
- Born in Texas: 651 (89.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 34 (4.7% of population)
--- Midwest (1.8%), Northeast (0.0%), South (2.5%), West (0.4%)
- Born in another country: 37 (5.11% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (1.38%), Latin America (3.73%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#4. Jim Wells County
- Population: 40,796
- Born in Texas: 36,992 (90.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,987 (4.9% of population)
--- Midwest (1.1%), Northeast (0.6%), South (2.0%), West (1.3%)
- Born in another country: 1,714 (4.20% of population)
--- Africa (0.02%) , Asia (0.49%), Europe (0.04%), Latin America (3.65%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#3. Kent County
- Population: 704
- Born in Texas: 646 (91.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 45 (6.4% of population)
--- Midwest (2.6%), Northeast (0.1%), South (1.1%), West (2.6%)
- Born in another country: 13 (1.85% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (1.70%), Latin America (0.14%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#2. Duval County
- Population: 11,194
- Born in Texas: 10,332 (92.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 339 (3.0% of population)
--- Midwest (0.3%), Northeast (0.0%), South (0.8%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 496 (4.43% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (4.43%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#1. Jim Hogg County
- Population: 5,187
- Born in Texas: 4,842 (93.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 201 (3.9% of population)
--- Midwest (2.4%), Northeast (0.2%), South (0.7%), West (0.6%)
- Born in another country: 133 (2.56% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (2.56%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
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