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 Texas 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 Texas residents live.
50. Calhoun County
- Population: 19,868
- Born in Texas: 15,721 (79.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,181 (11.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 132 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,834 (9.2% of population)
49. Irion County
- Population: 1,409
- Born in Texas: 1,118 (79.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 219 (15.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 72 (5.1% of population)
48. Victoria County
- Population: 91,413
- Born in Texas: 72,689 (79.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 11,402 (12.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 821 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 6,501 (7.1% of population)
47. Newton County
- Population: 12,093
- Born in Texas: 9,617 (79.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,257 (18.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 51 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 168 (1.4% of population)
46. Kleberg County
- Population: 30,579
- Born in Texas: 24,321 (79.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,264 (13.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 241 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,753 (5.7% of population)
45. Terry County
- Population: 11,629
- Born in Texas: 9,258 (79.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,171 (10.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 22 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,178 (10.1% of population)
44. Colorado County
- Population: 21,006
- Born in Texas: 16,744 (79.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,376 (11.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 54 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,832 (8.7% of population)
43. Robertson County
- Population: 17,167
- Born in Texas: 13,696 (79.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,456 (14.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 216 (1.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 799 (4.7% of population)
42. Jasper County
- Population: 32,727
- Born in Texas: 26,155 (79.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,673 (17.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 151 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 748 (2.3% of population)
41. Houston County
- Population: 22,051
- Born in Texas: 17,643 (80.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,558 (16.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 97 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 753 (3.4% of population)
40. Zavala County
- Population: 9,412
- Born in Texas: 7,536 (80.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,094 (11.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 59 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 723 (7.7% of population)
39. Coke County
- Population: 3,353
- Born in Texas: 2,686 (80.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 578 (17.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 11 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 78 (2.3% of population)
38. La Salle County
- Population: 6,839
- Born in Texas: 5,484 (80.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 869 (12.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 133 (1.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 353 (5.2% of population)
37. McCulloch County
- Population: 7,514
- Born in Texas: 6,050 (80.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,070 (14.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 78 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 316 (4.2% of population)
36. Crosby County
- Population: 5,041
- Born in Texas: 4,062 (80.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 743 (14.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 50 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 186 (3.7% of population)
35. Wharton County
- Population: 41,794
- Born in Texas: 33,740 (80.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,187 (10.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 304 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,563 (8.5% of population)
34. Scurry County
- Population: 16,488
- Born in Texas: 13,333 (80.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,027 (12.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 118 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,010 (6.1% of population)
33. Cottle County
- Population: 1,368
- Born in Texas: 1,107 (80.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 229 (16.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 6 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 26 (1.9% of population)
32. Throckmorton County
- Population: 1,639
- Born in Texas: 1,329 (81.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 253 (15.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 57 (3.5% of population)
31. Dawson County
- Population: 12,134
- Born in Texas: 9,840 (81.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,220 (10.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 53 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,021 (8.4% of population)
30. Dickens County
- Population: 1,747
- Born in Texas: 1,419 (81.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 230 (13.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 95 (5.4% of population)
29. Jackson County
- Population: 15,152
- Born in Texas: 12,330 (81.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,871 (12.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 148 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 803 (5.3% of population)
28. Willacy County
- Population: 20,139
- Born in Texas: 16,390 (81.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,361 (6.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 297 (1.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,091 (10.4% of population)
27. Nolan County
- Population: 14,454
- Born in Texas: 11,785 (81.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,952 (13.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 71 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 646 (4.5% of population)
26. Motley County
- Population: 1,183
- Born in Texas: 971 (82.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 194 (16.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 17 (1.4% of population)
25. Reagan County
- Population: 3,232
- Born in Texas: 2,673 (82.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 166 (5.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 9 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 384 (11.9% of population)
24. Delta County
- Population: 5,438
- Born in Texas: 4,505 (82.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 836 (15.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 16 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 81 (1.5% of population)
23. Sutton County
- Population: 3,277
- Born in Texas: 2,718 (82.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 249 (7.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 13 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 297 (9.1% of population)
22. Swisher County
- Population: 6,937
- Born in Texas: 5,754 (82.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 867 (12.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 9 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 307 (4.4% of population)
21. Karnes County
- Population: 14,968
- Born in Texas: 12,436 (83.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,861 (12.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 122 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 549 (3.7% of population)
20. Kent County
- Population: 734
- Born in Texas: 610 (83.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 105 (14.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 16 (2.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 3 (0.4% of population)
19. Bee County
- Population: 31,083
- Born in Texas: 25,833 (83.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,625 (11.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 237 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,388 (4.5% of population)
18. Shackelford County
- Population: 3,175
- Born in Texas: 2,642 (83.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 498 (15.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 8 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 27 (0.9% of population)
17. Jim Wells County
- Population: 38,850
- Born in Texas: 32,344 (83.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,393 (11.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 199 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,914 (4.9% of population)
16. Runnels County
- Population: 9,874
- Born in Texas: 8,242 (83.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,155 (11.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 104 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 373 (3.8% of population)
15. Fisher County
- Population: 3,655
- Born in Texas: 3,074 (84.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 456 (12.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 25 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 100 (2.7% of population)
14. Brooks County
- Population: 6,943
- Born in Texas: 5,847 (84.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 555 (8.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 54 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 487 (7.0% of population)
13. Stonewall County
- Population: 1,227
- Born in Texas: 1,034 (84.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 182 (14.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 11 (0.9% of population)
12. Menard County
- Population: 1,955
- Born in Texas: 1,648 (84.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 198 (10.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 20 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 89 (4.6% of population)
11. DeWitt County
- Population: 20,016
- Born in Texas: 16,973 (84.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,265 (11.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 74 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 704 (3.5% of population)
10. Lavaca County
- Population: 20,552
- Born in Texas: 17,566 (85.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,950 (9.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 49 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 987 (4.8% of population)
9. Goliad County
- Population: 7,141
- Born in Texas: 6,154 (86.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 654 (9.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 41 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 292 (4.1% of population)
8. Terrell County
- Population: 835
- Born in Texas: 726 (86.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 102 (12.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 7 (0.8% of population)
7. Borden County
- Population: 713
- Born in Texas: 620 (87.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 73 (10.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 7 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 13 (1.8% of population)
6. Lynn County
- Population: 5,752
- Born in Texas: 5,028 (87.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 482 (8.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 13 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 229 (4.0% of population)
5. Refugio County
- Population: 6,707
- Born in Texas: 5,914 (88.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 585 (8.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 4 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 204 (3.0% of population)
4. King County
- Population: 211
- Born in Texas: 192 (91.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 19 (9.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 0 (0.0% of population)
3. Duval County
- Population: 9,742
- Born in Texas: 8,929 (91.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 502 (5.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 12 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 299 (3.1% of population)
2. McMullen County
- Population: 700
- Born in Texas: 643 (91.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 27 (3.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 29 (4.1% of population)
1. Jim Hogg County
- Population: 4,727
- Born in Texas: 4,531 (95.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 136 (2.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 19 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 41 (0.9% of population)