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

STACKER - The combination of inflation and increased work-from-home opportunities brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted migration patterns across the United States, the effects of which are still being felt in 2024, according to the latest Census Bureau data.

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 2022 analysis of movement out of crowded cities from Stateline showed that many people leaving city centers moved to nearby suburbs in the same state. In Texas, for example, moves out of Houston rose 62% in the first month of the pandemic; meanwhile, the western suburb of Katy saw more new residents move in than any other part of the country.

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 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 2022 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.

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#50. Shawnee County

- Population: 178,625
- Born in Kansas: 125,413 (70.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 43,672 (24.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,985 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 7,555 (4.2% of population)

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#49. Brown County

- Population: 9,486
- Born in Kansas: 6,678 (70.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,676 (28.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 58 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 74 (0.8% of population)

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#48. Coffey County

- Population: 8,334
- Born in Kansas: 5,869 (70.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,353 (28.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 39 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 73 (0.9% of population)

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#47. Saline County

- Population: 54,160
- Born in Kansas: 38,189 (70.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 12,467 (23.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 819 (1.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,685 (5.0% of population)

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#46. Mitchell County

- Population: 5,829
- Born in Kansas: 4,127 (70.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,618 (27.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 36 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 48 (0.8% of population)

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#45. Harper County

- Population: 5,457
- Born in Kansas: 3,867 (70.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,477 (27.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 110 (2.0% of population)

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#44. Lane County

- Population: 1,528
- Born in Kansas: 1,085 (71.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 332 (21.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 111 (7.3% of population)

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#43. Republic County

- Population: 4,686
- Born in Kansas: 3,359 (71.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,294 (27.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 10 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 23 (0.5% of population)

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#42. Clay County

- Population: 8,088
- Born in Kansas: 5,810 (71.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,107 (26.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 121 (1.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 50 (0.6% of population)

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#41. Harvey County

- Population: 33,959
- Born in Kansas: 24,407 (71.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,169 (24.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 284 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,099 (3.2% of population)

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#40. Pawnee County

- Population: 6,288
- Born in Kansas: 4,521 (71.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,615 (25.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 83 (1.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 69 (1.1% of population)

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#39. Washington County

- Population: 5,529
- Born in Kansas: 3,988 (72.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,342 (24.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 10 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 189 (3.4% of population)

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#38. Pratt County

- Population: 9,175
- Born in Kansas: 6,632 (72.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,352 (25.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 91 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 100 (1.1% of population)

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#37. Gove County

- Population: 2,758
- Born in Kansas: 1,994 (72.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 716 (26.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 11 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 37 (1.3% of population)

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#36. Barber County

- Population: 4,081
- Born in Kansas: 2,961 (72.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,020 (25.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 22 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 78 (1.9% of population)

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#35. Russell County

- Population: 6,702
- Born in Kansas: 4,865 (72.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,702 (25.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 48 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 87 (1.3% of population)

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#34. Sumner County

- Population: 22,517
- Born in Kansas: 16,678 (74.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,433 (24.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 101 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 305 (1.4% of population)

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#33. Edwards County

- Population: 2,849
- Born in Kansas: 2,115 (74.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 461 (16.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 4 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 269 (9.4% of population)

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#32. Stafford County

- Population: 4,054
- Born in Kansas: 3,011 (74.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 823 (20.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 7 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 213 (5.3% of population)

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#31. Cloud County

- Population: 9,008
- Born in Kansas: 6,707 (74.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,008 (22.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 20 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 273 (3.0% of population)

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#30. Ellsworth County

- Population: 6,374
- Born in Kansas: 4,752 (74.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,508 (23.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 37 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 77 (1.2% of population)

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#29. Jackson County

- Population: 13,274
- Born in Kansas: 9,963 (75.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,842 (21.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 118 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 351 (2.6% of population)

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#28. Scott County

- Population: 5,128
- Born in Kansas: 3,864 (75.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 869 (16.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 16 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 379 (7.4% of population)

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#27. Wabaunsee County

- Population: 6,922
- Born in Kansas: 5,228 (75.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,500 (21.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 113 (1.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 81 (1.2% of population)

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#26. Reno County

- Population: 61,881
- Born in Kansas: 46,767 (75.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 13,265 (21.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 334 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,515 (2.4% of population)

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#25. Morris County

- Population: 5,385
- Born in Kansas: 4,076 (75.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,160 (21.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 67 (1.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 82 (1.5% of population)

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#24. Chase County

- Population: 2,570
- Born in Kansas: 1,955 (76.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 513 (20.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 9 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 93 (3.6% of population)

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#23. Osage County

- Population: 15,787
- Born in Kansas: 12,013 (76.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,545 (22.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 47 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 182 (1.2% of population)

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#22. Marshall County

- Population: 10,014
- Born in Kansas: 7,632 (76.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,165 (21.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 84 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 133 (1.3% of population)

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#21. Kingman County

- Population: 7,369
- Born in Kansas: 5,617 (76.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,636 (22.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 108 (1.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 8 (0.1% of population)

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#20. Wilson County

- Population: 8,667
- Born in Kansas: 6,611 (76.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,919 (22.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 40 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 97 (1.1% of population)

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#19. Ness County

- Population: 2,677
- Born in Kansas: 2,043 (76.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 442 (16.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 13 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 179 (6.7% of population)

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#18. Lincoln County

- Population: 2,929
- Born in Kansas: 2,238 (76.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 679 (23.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 12 (0.4% of population)

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#17. Barton County

- Population: 25,477
- Born in Kansas: 19,505 (76.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,722 (18.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 142 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,108 (4.3% of population)

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#16. Greenwood County

- Population: 6,001
- Born in Kansas: 4,614 (76.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,311 (21.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 21 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 55 (0.9% of population)

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#15. Trego County

- Population: 2,798
- Born in Kansas: 2,153 (76.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 617 (22.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 16 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 12 (0.4% of population)

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#14. Neosho County

- Population: 15,826
- Born in Kansas: 12,181 (77.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,204 (20.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 103 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 338 (2.1% of population)

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#13. Ellis County

- Population: 28,921
- Born in Kansas: 22,287 (77.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,689 (19.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 104 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 841 (2.9% of population)

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#12. Jefferson County

- Population: 18,387
- Born in Kansas: 14,173 (77.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,961 (21.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 89 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 164 (0.9% of population)

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#11. Marion County

- Population: 11,867
- Born in Kansas: 9,159 (77.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,528 (21.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 71 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 109 (0.9% of population)

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#10. Anderson County

- Population: 7,799
- Born in Kansas: 6,034 (77.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,705 (21.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 35 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 25 (0.3% of population)

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#9. Rooks County

- Population: 4,925
- Born in Kansas: 3,834 (77.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,043 (21.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 21 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 27 (0.5% of population)

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#8. Rush County

- Population: 2,939
- Born in Kansas: 2,292 (78.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 606 (20.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 38 (1.3% of population)

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#7. Nemaha County

- Population: 10,219
- Born in Kansas: 7,971 (78.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,158 (21.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 13 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 77 (0.8% of population)

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#6. Osborne County

- Population: 3,493
- Born in Kansas: 2,735 (78.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 696 (19.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 7 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 55 (1.6% of population)

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#5. Allen County

- Population: 12,554
- Born in Kansas: 9,868 (78.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,265 (18.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 76 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 345 (2.7% of population)

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#4. Ottawa County

- Population: 5,768
- Born in Kansas: 4,579 (79.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,103 (19.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 16 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 70 (1.2% of population)

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#3. Hodgeman County

- Population: 1,770
- Born in Kansas: 1,410 (79.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 290 (16.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 10 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 60 (3.4% of population)

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#2. Woodson County

- Population: 3,134
- Born in Kansas: 2,501 (79.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 602 (19.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 14 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 17 (0.5% of population)

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#1. Sheridan County

- Population: 2,450
- Born in Kansas: 1,975 (80.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 384 (15.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 5 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 86 (3.5% of population)

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 49 states.

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