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

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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky residents live.

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#50. Bourbon County

– Population: 20,228
– Born in Kentucky: 15,631 (77.3% of population)
– Born in a different state: 3,663 (18.1% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 79 (0.4% of population)
– Born in another country: 855 (4.2% of population)

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#49. Bracken County

– Population: 8,420
– Born in Kentucky: 6,515 (77.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,812 (21.5% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 36 (0.4% of population)
– Born in another country: 57 (0.7% of population)

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#48. Breckinridge County

– Population: 20,528
– Born in Kentucky: 15,889 (77.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 4,405 (21.5% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 110 (0.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 124 (0.6% of population)

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#47. Wayne County

– Population: 19,666
– Born in Kentucky: 15,244 (77.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 3,792 (19.3% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 80 (0.4% of population)
– Born in another country: 550 (2.8% of population)

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#46. Bell County

– Population: 24,248
– Born in Kentucky: 18,820 (77.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 5,368 (22.1% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 10 (0.0% of population)
– Born in another country: 50 (0.2% of population)

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#45. Spencer County

– Population: 19,549
– Born in Kentucky: 15,201 (77.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 4,165 (21.3% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 22 (0.1% of population)
– Born in another country: 161 (0.8% of population)

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#44. Casey County

– Population: 15,942
– Born in Kentucky: 12,410 (77.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 3,315 (20.8% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 72 (0.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 145 (0.9% of population)

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#43. Hopkins County

– Population: 45,223
– Born in Kentucky: 35,224 (77.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 8,967 (19.8% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 244 (0.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 788 (1.7% of population)

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#42. Garrard County

– Population: 17,175
– Born in Kentucky: 13,468 (78.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 3,224 (18.8% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 8 (0.0% of population)
– Born in another country: 475 (2.8% of population)

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#41. Butler County

– Population: 12,365
– Born in Kentucky: 9,720 (78.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,293 (18.5% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 18 (0.1% of population)
– Born in another country: 334 (2.7% of population)

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#40. Montgomery County

– Population: 28,188
– Born in Kentucky: 22,161 (78.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 5,535 (19.6% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 147 (0.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 345 (1.2% of population)

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#39. Powell County

– Population: 13,089
– Born in Kentucky: 10,310 (78.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,693 (20.6% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 33 (0.3% of population)
– Born in another country: 53 (0.4% of population)

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#38. Nelson County

– Population: 46,779
– Born in Kentucky: 36,856 (78.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 8,612 (18.4% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 424 (0.9% of population)
– Born in another country: 887 (1.9% of population)

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#37. Magoffin County

– Population: 11,647
– Born in Kentucky: 9,197 (79.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,370 (20.3% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 8 (0.1% of population)
– Born in another country: 72 (0.6% of population)

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#36. Taylor County

– Population: 26,056
– Born in Kentucky: 20,585 (79.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 5,154 (19.8% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 28 (0.1% of population)
– Born in another country: 289 (1.1% of population)

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#35. Muhlenberg County

– Population: 30,735
– Born in Kentucky: 24,572 (79.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 5,407 (17.6% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 99 (0.3% of population)
– Born in another country: 657 (2.1% of population)

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#34. Elliott County

– Population: 7,378
– Born in Kentucky: 5,901 (80.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,464 (19.8% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 4 (0.1% of population)
– Born in another country: 9 (0.1% of population)

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#33. Monroe County

– Population: 11,331
– Born in Kentucky: 9,065 (80.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,035 (18.0% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 74 (0.7% of population)
– Born in another country: 157 (1.4% of population)

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#32. Anderson County

– Population: 23,839
– Born in Kentucky: 19,082 (80.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 4,358 (18.3% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 120 (0.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 279 (1.2% of population)

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#31. Ohio County

– Population: 23,782
– Born in Kentucky: 19,060 (80.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 3,911 (16.4% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 127 (0.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 684 (2.9% of population)

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#30. Bath County

– Population: 12,739
– Born in Kentucky: 10,210 (80.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,464 (19.3% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 31 (0.2% of population)
– Born in another country: 34 (0.3% of population)

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#29. Johnson County

– Population: 22,631
– Born in Kentucky: 18,209 (80.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 4,043 (17.9% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 55 (0.2% of population)
– Born in another country: 324 (1.4% of population)

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#28. Harrison County

– Population: 18,803
– Born in Kentucky: 15,146 (80.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 3,429 (18.2% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 85 (0.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 143 (0.8% of population)

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#27. Fleming County

– Population: 15,111
– Born in Kentucky: 12,226 (80.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,684 (17.8% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 35 (0.2% of population)
– Born in another country: 166 (1.1% of population)

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#26. Green County

– Population: 11,198
– Born in Kentucky: 9,086 (81.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,044 (18.3% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 35 (0.3% of population)
– Born in another country: 33 (0.3% of population)

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#25. Bullitt County

– Population: 82,482
– Born in Kentucky: 66,965 (81.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 13,007 (15.8% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 484 (0.6% of population)
– Born in another country: 2,026 (2.5% of population)

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#24. LaRue County

– Population: 14,902
– Born in Kentucky: 12,103 (81.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,534 (17.0% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 77 (0.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 188 (1.3% of population)

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#23. Morgan County

– Population: 13,840
– Born in Kentucky: 11,252 (81.3% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,351 (17.0% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 58 (0.4% of population)
– Born in another country: 179 (1.3% of population)

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#22. Edmonson County

– Population: 12,179
– Born in Kentucky: 9,934 (81.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,197 (18.0% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 27 (0.2% of population)
– Born in another country: 21 (0.2% of population)

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#21. Lincoln County

– Population: 24,320
– Born in Kentucky: 19,887 (81.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 4,126 (17.0% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 94 (0.4% of population)
– Born in another country: 213 (0.9% of population)

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#20. Clay County

– Population: 20,322
– Born in Kentucky: 16,633 (81.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 3,485 (17.1% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 27 (0.1% of population)
– Born in another country: 177 (0.9% of population)

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#19. Washington County

– Population: 12,025
– Born in Kentucky: 9,866 (82.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,028 (16.9% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 38 (0.3% of population)
– Born in another country: 93 (0.8% of population)

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#18. Harlan County

– Population: 26,589
– Born in Kentucky: 21,853 (82.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 4,548 (17.1% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 74 (0.3% of population)
– Born in another country: 114 (0.4% of population)

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#17. Knox County

– Population: 30,207
– Born in Kentucky: 24,867 (82.3% of population)
– Born in a different state: 5,095 (16.9% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 19 (0.1% of population)
– Born in another country: 226 (0.7% of population)

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#16. Jackson County

– Population: 13,002
– Born in Kentucky: 10,734 (82.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,167 (16.7% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 58 (0.4% of population)
– Born in another country: 43 (0.3% of population)

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#15. Knott County

– Population: 14,282
– Born in Kentucky: 11,794 (82.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,372 (16.6% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 45 (0.3% of population)
– Born in another country: 71 (0.5% of population)

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#14. Letcher County

– Population: 21,490
– Born in Kentucky: 17,853 (83.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 3,491 (16.2% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 54 (0.3% of population)
– Born in another country: 92 (0.4% of population)

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#13. Grayson County

– Population: 26,465
– Born in Kentucky: 22,148 (83.7% of population)
– Born in a different state: 4,055 (15.3% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 47 (0.2% of population)
– Born in another country: 215 (0.8% of population)

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#12. McLean County

– Population: 9,173
– Born in Kentucky: 7,713 (84.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,352 (14.7% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 55 (0.6% of population)
– Born in another country: 53 (0.6% of population)

Patrick Jennings // Shutterstock

#11. Rockcastle County

– Population: 16,171
– Born in Kentucky: 13,606 (84.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,517 (15.6% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 19 (0.1% of population)
– Born in another country: 29 (0.2% of population)

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#10. Nicholas County

– Population: 7,613
– Born in Kentucky: 6,407 (84.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,180 (15.5% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
– Born in another country: 26 (0.3% of population)

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#9. Marion County

– Population: 19,627
– Born in Kentucky: 16,578 (84.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,512 (12.8% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 154 (0.8% of population)
– Born in another country: 383 (2.0% of population)

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#8. Owsley County

– Population: 4,054
– Born in Kentucky: 3,430 (84.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 553 (13.6% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 65 (1.6% of population)
– Born in another country: 6 (0.1% of population)

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#7. Floyd County

– Population: 35,780
– Born in Kentucky: 30,369 (84.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 5,148 (14.4% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 93 (0.3% of population)
– Born in another country: 170 (0.5% of population)

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#6. Robertson County

– Population: 2,207
– Born in Kentucky: 1,888 (85.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 315 (14.3% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
– Born in another country: 4 (0.2% of population)

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#5. Perry County

– Population: 28,136
– Born in Kentucky: 24,239 (86.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 3,628 (12.9% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 25 (0.1% of population)
– Born in another country: 244 (0.9% of population)

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#4. Breathitt County

– Population: 13,580
– Born in Kentucky: 11,728 (86.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,680 (12.4% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 56 (0.4% of population)
– Born in another country: 116 (0.9% of population)

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#3. Estill County

– Population: 14,138
– Born in Kentucky: 12,233 (86.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,717 (12.1% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 4 (0.0% of population)
– Born in another country: 184 (1.3% of population)

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#2. Wolfe County

– Population: 6,573
– Born in Kentucky: 5,726 (87.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 842 (12.8% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
– Born in another country: 5 (0.1% of population)

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#1. Leslie County

– Population: 10,468
– Born in Kentucky: 9,574 (91.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 838 (8.0% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 22 (0.2% of population)
– Born in another country: 34 (0.3% 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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