Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Idaho
KRRK // Wikimedia Commons
Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Idaho
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 Idaho 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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L’Aquatique // Wikimedia Commons
#44. Bonner County
– Population: 44,688
– Born in Idaho: 12,853 (28.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 30,250 (67.7% of population)
— Midwest (11.5%), Northeast (4.7%), South (6.3%), West (45.2%)
– Born in another country: 1,142 (2.56% of population)
— Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.50%), Europe (0.94%), Latin America (0.59%), North America (0.45%), Oceania (0.04%)
Federal Highway Administration // Wikimedia Commons
#43. Boundary County
– Population: 12,156
– Born in Idaho: 3,630 (29.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 7,721 (63.5% of population)
— Midwest (10.2%), Northeast (2.9%), South (8.1%), West (42.2%)
– Born in another country: 485 (3.99% of population)
— Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.54%), Europe (0.69%), Latin America (0.70%), North America (2.05%), Oceania (0.00%)
Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons
#42. Elmore County
– Population: 27,043
– Born in Idaho: 8,411 (31.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 15,064 (55.7% of population)
— Midwest (10.6%), Northeast (5.7%), South (12.8%), West (26.6%)
– Born in another country: 2,809 (10.39% of population)
— Africa (0.04%) , Asia (3.02%), Europe (1.93%), Latin America (5.26%), North America (0.14%), Oceania (0.00%)
Lowjumpingfrog // Wikimedia Commons
#41. Teton County
– Population: 11,776
– Born in Idaho: 3,669 (31.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 7,123 (60.5% of population)
— Midwest (11.8%), Northeast (9.5%), South (8.2%), West (31.1%)
– Born in another country: 925 (7.85% of population)
— Africa (0.05%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (1.04%), Latin America (6.76%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
Antony-22 // Wikimedia Commons
#40. Kootenai County
– Population: 161,676
– Born in Idaho: 51,746 (32.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 104,636 (64.7% of population)
— Midwest (9.7%), Northeast (3.4%), South (4.9%), West (46.7%)
– Born in another country: 3,708 (2.29% of population)
— Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.48%), Europe (0.70%), Latin America (0.70%), North America (0.35%), Oceania (0.02%)
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Greg L. Wright // Wikimedia Commons
#39. Blaine County
– Population: 22,729
– Born in Idaho: 7,336 (32.3% of population)
– Born in a different state: 11,493 (50.6% of population)
— Midwest (8.5%), Northeast (7.5%), South (5.1%), West (29.4%)
– Born in another country: 3,541 (15.58% of population)
— Africa (0.08%) , Asia (0.50%), Europe (1.06%), Latin America (13.21%), North America (0.60%), Oceania (0.12%)
Ian Poellet // Wikimedia Commons
#38. Payette County
– Population: 23,705
– Born in Idaho: 7,747 (32.7% of population)
– Born in a different state: 14,240 (60.1% of population)
— Midwest (6.0%), Northeast (0.9%), South (4.6%), West (48.5%)
– Born in another country: 1,581 (6.67% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.38%), Europe (0.39%), Latin America (5.54%), North America (0.32%), Oceania (0.03%)
Tricia Simpson // Wikimedia Commons
#37. Oneida County
– Population: 4,429
– Born in Idaho: 1,475 (33.3% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,773 (62.6% of population)
— Midwest (2.1%), Northeast (1.1%), South (1.6%), West (57.8%)
– Born in another country: 177 (4.00% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.61%), Latin America (2.73%), North America (0.65%), Oceania (0.00%)
Ian Poellet // Wikimedia Commons
#36. Benewah County
– Population: 9,231
– Born in Idaho: 3,302 (35.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 5,732 (62.1% of population)
— Midwest (6.3%), Northeast (2.9%), South (6.6%), West (46.3%)
– Born in another country: 111 (1.20% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.23%), Europe (0.32%), Latin America (0.35%), North America (0.28%), Oceania (0.02%)
Ken Lund // Wikimedia Commons
#35. Franklin County
– Population: 13,736
– Born in Idaho: 5,213 (38.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 8,045 (58.6% of population)
— Midwest (2.3%), Northeast (1.5%), South (6.3%), West (48.5%)
– Born in another country: 315 (2.29% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.12%), Europe (0.31%), Latin America (1.83%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.01%)
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Apstrinka // Wikimedia Commons
#34. Latah County
– Population: 40,052
– Born in Idaho: 15,293 (38.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 22,200 (55.4% of population)
— Midwest (8.5%), Northeast (4.2%), South (5.4%), West (37.4%)
– Born in another country: 2,011 (5.02% of population)
— Africa (0.17%) , Asia (2.94%), Europe (0.65%), Latin America (0.60%), North America (0.63%), Oceania (0.02%)
Sam Beebe // Wikimedia Commons
#33. Washington County
– Population: 10,128
– Born in Idaho: 3,940 (38.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 5,338 (52.7% of population)
— Midwest (6.3%), Northeast (1.2%), South (5.1%), West (40.1%)
– Born in another country: 755 (7.45% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.39%), Europe (0.73%), Latin America (6.18%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.16%)
Ken Lund // Wikimedia Commons
#32. Adams County
– Population: 4,200
– Born in Idaho: 1,685 (40.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,429 (57.8% of population)
— Midwest (10.5%), Northeast (5.1%), South (3.8%), West (38.5%)
– Born in another country: 39 (0.93% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.17%), Europe (0.36%), Latin America (0.00%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.40%)
PdxCobra // Wikimedia Commons
#31. Boise County
– Population: 7,625
– Born in Idaho: 3,067 (40.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 4,200 (55.1% of population)
— Midwest (14.5%), Northeast (2.6%), South (6.6%), West (31.4%)
– Born in another country: 285 (3.74% of population)
— Africa (0.03%) , Asia (0.94%), Europe (0.64%), Latin America (1.67%), North America (0.46%), Oceania (0.00%)
Cornellrockey04 // Wikimedia Commons
#30. Camas County
– Population: 1,069
– Born in Idaho: 435 (40.7% of population)
– Born in a different state: 601 (56.2% of population)
— Midwest (16.1%), Northeast (0.4%), South (5.9%), West (33.9%)
– Born in another country: 33 (3.09% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (2.62%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.47%)
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John Stanton // Wikimedia Commons
#29. Lemhi County
– Population: 7,929
– Born in Idaho: 3,241 (40.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 4,473 (56.4% of population)
— Midwest (11.6%), Northeast (3.8%), South (5.0%), West (36.0%)
– Born in another country: 167 (2.11% of population)
— Africa (0.69%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.37%), Latin America (0.29%), North America (0.50%), Oceania (0.25%)
Charles Knowles // Shutterstock
#28. Ada County
– Population: 469,473
– Born in Idaho: 206,910 (44.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 229,281 (48.8% of population)
— Midwest (8.3%), Northeast (3.2%), South (5.6%), West (31.7%)
– Born in another country: 26,942 (5.74% of population)
— Africa (0.41%) , Asia (2.04%), Europe (1.30%), Latin America (1.57%), North America (0.38%), Oceania (0.04%)
Ken Lund // Wikimedia Commons
#27. Madison County
– Population: 39,725
– Born in Idaho: 17,577 (44.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 20,086 (50.6% of population)
— Midwest (4.8%), Northeast (1.3%), South (6.0%), West (38.5%)
– Born in another country: 1,812 (4.56% of population)
— Africa (0.02%) , Asia (1.07%), Europe (0.11%), Latin America (2.97%), North America (0.39%), Oceania (0.01%)
Karthikc123 // Wikimedia Commons
#26. Valley County
– Population: 11,085
– Born in Idaho: 4,913 (44.3% of population)
– Born in a different state: 5,927 (53.5% of population)
— Midwest (8.3%), Northeast (4.3%), South (3.5%), West (37.4%)
– Born in another country: 118 (1.06% of population)
— Africa (0.03%) , Asia (0.07%), Europe (0.82%), Latin America (0.13%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.00%)
Jon Roanhaus // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Clearwater County
– Population: 8,735
– Born in Idaho: 3,890 (44.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 4,452 (51.0% of population)
— Midwest (8.5%), Northeast (4.3%), South (6.0%), West (32.2%)
– Born in another country: 362 (4.14% of population)
— Africa (0.06%) , Asia (0.57%), Europe (2.66%), Latin America (0.63%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.23%)
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Kristen Taylor // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Clark County
– Population: 885
– Born in Idaho: 397 (44.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 234 (26.4% of population)
— Midwest (3.5%), Northeast (1.2%), South (2.5%), West (19.2%)
– Born in another country: 230 (25.99% of population)
— Africa (0.79%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (24.75%), North America (0.45%), Oceania (0.00%)
jfergusonphotos // Shutterstock
#23. Shoshone County
– Population: 12,700
– Born in Idaho: 5,790 (45.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 6,667 (52.5% of population)
— Midwest (8.8%), Northeast (2.1%), South (5.9%), West (35.7%)
– Born in another country: 153 (1.20% of population)
— Africa (0.02%) , Asia (0.01%), Europe (0.37%), Latin America (0.23%), North America (0.58%), Oceania (0.00%)
Tamanoeconomico // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Canyon County
– Population: 223,890
– Born in Idaho: 106,993 (47.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 96,079 (42.9% of population)
— Midwest (5.3%), Northeast (1.8%), South (5.4%), West (30.4%)
– Born in another country: 17,625 (7.87% of population)
— Africa (0.05%) , Asia (0.80%), Europe (0.72%), Latin America (6.10%), North America (0.12%), Oceania (0.09%)
John D // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Gem County
– Population: 17,771
– Born in Idaho: 8,524 (48.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 8,336 (46.9% of population)
— Midwest (7.4%), Northeast (2.1%), South (4.3%), West (33.1%)
– Born in another country: 759 (4.27% of population)
— Africa (0.21%) , Asia (0.36%), Europe (0.26%), Latin America (3.37%), North America (0.07%), Oceania (0.00%)
tinosa // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Custer County
– Population: 4,193
– Born in Idaho: 2,012 (48.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,072 (49.4% of population)
— Midwest (6.2%), Northeast (2.8%), South (7.0%), West (33.3%)
– Born in another country: 18 (0.43% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.21%), Latin America (0.17%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)
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rustejunk // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Lewis County
– Population: 3,850
– Born in Idaho: 1,915 (49.7% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,817 (47.2% of population)
— Midwest (6.4%), Northeast (1.6%), South (6.4%), West (32.8%)
– Born in another country: 68 (1.77% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.78%), Europe (0.31%), Latin America (0.39%), North America (0.26%), Oceania (0.03%)
Forest Service Northern Region from Missoula, MT, USA // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Idaho County
– Population: 16,511
– Born in Idaho: 8,258 (50.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 7,965 (48.2% of population)
— Midwest (6.6%), Northeast (3.2%), South (4.4%), West (34.1%)
– Born in another country: 197 (1.19% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.25%), Europe (0.50%), Latin America (0.41%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (0.00%)
Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Jerome County
– Population: 24,074
– Born in Idaho: 12,255 (50.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 7,378 (30.6% of population)
— Midwest (4.1%), Northeast (1.8%), South (2.9%), West (21.8%)
– Born in another country: 4,026 (16.72% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.47%), Europe (0.12%), Latin America (15.86%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.27%)
Tom Young // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Lincoln County
– Population: 5,342
– Born in Idaho: 2,813 (52.7% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,645 (30.8% of population)
— Midwest (3.6%), Northeast (1.1%), South (4.5%), West (21.6%)
– Born in another country: 882 (16.51% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.15%), Europe (0.04%), Latin America (16.30%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.00%)
United States Department of Agriculture // Wikimedia Commons
#15. Owyhee County
– Population: 11,724
– Born in Idaho: 6,241 (53.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 4,368 (37.3% of population)
— Midwest (6.4%), Northeast (1.3%), South (5.4%), West (24.2%)
– Born in another country: 1,068 (9.11% of population)
— Africa (0.03%) , Asia (0.07%), Europe (0.30%), Latin America (8.62%), North America (0.09%), Oceania (0.00%)
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Karthikc123 // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Twin Falls County
– Population: 86,198
– Born in Idaho: 45,995 (53.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 31,772 (36.9% of population)
— Midwest (5.8%), Northeast (1.9%), South (4.6%), West (24.6%)
– Born in another country: 7,775 (9.02% of population)
— Africa (0.47%) , Asia (2.11%), Europe (1.14%), Latin America (5.09%), North America (0.17%), Oceania (0.05%)
Dsdugan // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Nez Perce County
– Population: 40,468
– Born in Idaho: 21,633 (53.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 17,670 (43.7% of population)
— Midwest (6.9%), Northeast (2.1%), South (3.4%), West (31.3%)
– Born in another country: 787 (1.94% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.54%), Europe (0.50%), Latin America (0.44%), North America (0.41%), Oceania (0.06%)
Ken Lund // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Minidoka County
– Population: 20,817
– Born in Idaho: 11,335 (54.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 6,243 (30.0% of population)
— Midwest (4.7%), Northeast (1.3%), South (4.0%), West (20.0%)
– Born in another country: 3,210 (15.42% of population)
— Africa (0.07%) , Asia (0.36%), Europe (0.32%), Latin America (14.57%), North America (0.11%), Oceania (0.00%)
NPS photo // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Gooding County
– Population: 15,280
– Born in Idaho: 8,540 (55.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 4,556 (29.8% of population)
— Midwest (2.8%), Northeast (1.8%), South (3.3%), West (21.8%)
– Born in another country: 2,122 (13.89% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.37%), Europe (0.33%), Latin America (12.70%), North America (0.36%), Oceania (0.12%)
Dschwen // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Caribou County
– Population: 7,028
– Born in Idaho: 4,018 (57.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,662 (37.9% of population)
— Midwest (4.2%), Northeast (1.3%), South (1.5%), West (30.9%)
– Born in another country: 329 (4.68% of population)
— Africa (0.11%) , Asia (0.03%), Europe (0.16%), Latin America (4.34%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (0.00%)
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Jcarr29 // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Bonneville County
– Population: 116,970
– Born in Idaho: 67,245 (57.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 43,101 (36.8% of population)
— Midwest (5.7%), Northeast (2.2%), South (4.6%), West (24.3%)
– Born in another country: 5,696 (4.87% of population)
— Africa (0.09%) , Asia (0.57%), Europe (0.30%), Latin America (3.59%), North America (0.31%), Oceania (0.00%)
Michlaovic // Wikimedia
#8. Bannock County
– Population: 86,742
– Born in Idaho: 50,547 (58.3% of population)
– Born in a different state: 32,450 (37.4% of population)
— Midwest (6.1%), Northeast (2.8%), South (4.3%), West (24.3%)
– Born in another country: 3,082 (3.55% of population)
— Africa (0.11%) , Asia (1.64%), Europe (0.56%), Latin America (1.05%), North America (0.08%), Oceania (0.10%)
wilson44691 // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Cassia County
– Population: 23,847
– Born in Idaho: 14,154 (59.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 7,370 (30.9% of population)
— Midwest (3.3%), Northeast (1.1%), South (3.9%), West (22.6%)
– Born in another country: 2,151 (9.02% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.60%), Europe (0.54%), Latin America (7.41%), North America (0.44%), Oceania (0.03%)
Tricia Simpson // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Bear Lake County
– Population: 6,054
– Born in Idaho: 3,644 (60.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,229 (36.8% of population)
— Midwest (3.2%), Northeast (0.4%), South (2.5%), West (30.7%)
– Born in another country: 146 (2.41% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.33%), Europe (0.78%), Latin America (1.12%), North America (0.18%), Oceania (0.00%)
Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Fremont County
– Population: 13,111
– Born in Idaho: 7,986 (60.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 4,197 (32.0% of population)
— Midwest (4.8%), Northeast (1.2%), South (3.7%), West (22.3%)
– Born in another country: 874 (6.67% of population)
— Africa (0.08%) , Asia (0.16%), Europe (0.04%), Latin America (5.80%), North America (0.32%), Oceania (0.27%)
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JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Power County
– Population: 7,635
– Born in Idaho: 4,660 (61.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,831 (24.0% of population)
— Midwest (4.0%), Northeast (1.6%), South (3.2%), West (15.2%)
– Born in another country: 1,116 (14.62% of population)
— Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.03%), Europe (0.50%), Latin America (14.08%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
Squelle // Wikimedia Commons
#3. Butte County
– Population: 2,603
– Born in Idaho: 1,617 (62.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 974 (37.4% of population)
— Midwest (4.0%), Northeast (0.5%), South (5.5%), West (27.4%)
– Born in another country: 4 (0.15% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.04%), Latin America (0.12%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
Bathlander // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Jefferson County
– Population: 29,238
– Born in Idaho: 18,888 (64.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 9,006 (30.8% of population)
— Midwest (4.8%), Northeast (1.2%), South (3.8%), West (20.9%)
– Born in another country: 1,050 (3.59% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.24%), Europe (0.32%), Latin America (2.91%), North America (0.12%), Oceania (0.00%)
KRRK // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Bingham County
– Population: 46,246
– Born in Idaho: 31,825 (68.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 11,682 (25.3% of population)
— Midwest (3.7%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.4%), West (18.1%)
– Born in another country: 2,335 (5.05% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.23%), Europe (0.20%), Latin America (4.38%), North America (0.17%), Oceania (0.06%)
