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 New York 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 New York residents live.
50. Dutchess County
- Population: 298,220
- Born in New York: 205,233 (68.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 52,340 (17.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 5,732 (1.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 34,915 (11.7% of population)
49. Sullivan County
- Population: 79,721
- Born in New York: 55,005 (69.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 12,026 (15.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 2,355 (3.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 10,335 (13.0% of population)
48. Orange County
- Population: 406,616
- Born in New York: 281,354 (69.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 58,429 (14.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 11,194 (2.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 55,639 (13.7% of population)
47. Nassau County
- Population: 1,389,591
- Born in New York: 964,710 (69.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 76,894 (5.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 24,043 (1.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 323,944 (23.3% of population)
46. Putnam County
- Population: 98,107
- Born in New York: 69,240 (70.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 13,838 (14.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,405 (1.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 13,624 (13.9% of population)
45. Albany County
- Population: 317,018
- Born in New York: 228,244 (72.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 46,872 (14.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 4,009 (1.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 37,893 (12.0% of population)
44. Ulster County
- Population: 182,601
- Born in New York: 131,635 (72.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 32,975 (18.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3,174 (1.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 14,817 (8.1% of population)
43. Monroe County
- Population: 753,753
- Born in New York: 557,444 (74.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 114,339 (15.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 22,383 (3.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 59,587 (7.9% of population)
42. Schenectady County
- Population: 160,369
- Born in New York: 119,090 (74.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 22,218 (13.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3,084 (1.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 15,977 (10.0% of population)
41. Suffolk County
- Population: 1,530,146
- Born in New York: 1,139,832 (74.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 107,879 (7.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 25,102 (1.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 257,333 (16.8% of population)
40. Chautauqua County
- Population: 125,544
- Born in New York: 93,947 (74.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 24,582 (19.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3,755 (3.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,260 (2.6% of population)
39. Washington County
- Population: 60,522
- Born in New York: 45,303 (74.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 12,717 (21.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 578 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,924 (3.2% of population)
38. Onondaga County
- Population: 471,129
- Born in New York: 353,732 (75.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 72,665 (15.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 7,568 (1.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 37,164 (7.9% of population)
37. Hamilton County
- Population: 5,089
- Born in New York: 3,838 (75.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,148 (22.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 42 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 61 (1.2% of population)
36. Saratoga County
- Population: 238,284
- Born in New York: 180,925 (75.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 42,139 (17.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 2,170 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 13,050 (5.5% of population)
35. Chemung County
- Population: 82,147
- Born in New York: 62,464 (76.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 16,306 (19.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 511 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,866 (3.5% of population)
34. Clinton County
- Population: 78,493
- Born in New York: 59,794 (76.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 14,040 (17.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 903 (1.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,756 (4.8% of population)
33. Broome County
- Population: 197,378
- Born in New York: 150,501 (76.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 31,621 (16.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,669 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 13,587 (6.9% of population)
32. Rensselaer County
- Population: 160,332
- Born in New York: 122,410 (76.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 27,008 (16.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,927 (1.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 8,987 (5.6% of population)
31. Warren County
- Population: 65,517
- Born in New York: 50,480 (77.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 12,214 (18.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 684 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,139 (3.3% of population)
30. Franklin County
- Population: 46,696
- Born in New York: 36,162 (77.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,536 (16.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,360 (2.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,638 (3.5% of population)
29. Delaware County
- Population: 44,487
- Born in New York: 34,594 (77.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,609 (17.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 320 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,964 (4.4% of population)
28. Schuyler County
- Population: 17,562
- Born in New York: 13,673 (77.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,425 (19.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 105 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 359 (2.0% of population)
27. Otsego County
- Population: 60,108
- Born in New York: 46,993 (78.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 10,193 (17.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 470 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,452 (4.1% of population)
26. Greene County
- Population: 47,409
- Born in New York: 37,112 (78.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,173 (15.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 669 (1.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,455 (5.2% of population)
25. Oneida County
- Population: 229,124
- Born in New York: 180,595 (78.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 25,283 (11.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3,481 (1.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 19,765 (8.6% of population)
24. Ontario County
- Population: 112,625
- Born in New York: 89,169 (79.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 17,100 (15.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,415 (1.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 4,941 (4.4% of population)
23. Seneca County
- Population: 32,920
- Born in New York: 26,071 (79.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,473 (16.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 402 (1.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 974 (3.0% of population)
22. Yates County
- Population: 24,526
- Born in New York: 19,481 (79.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,502 (18.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 129 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 414 (1.7% of population)
21. Montgomery County
- Population: 49,528
- Born in New York: 39,392 (79.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,301 (14.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,419 (2.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,416 (2.9% of population)
20. Steuben County
- Population: 92,588
- Born in New York: 74,099 (80.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 15,110 (16.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 502 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,877 (3.1% of population)
19. Erie County
- Population: 950,622
- Born in New York: 763,081 (80.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 98,488 (10.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 17,985 (1.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 71,068 (7.5% of population)
18. St. Lawrence County
- Population: 107,226
- Born in New York: 86,520 (80.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 15,710 (14.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,061 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,935 (3.7% of population)
17. Schoharie County
- Population: 30,049
- Born in New York: 24,494 (81.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,423 (14.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 201 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 931 (3.1% of population)
16. Madison County
- Population: 67,328
- Born in New York: 55,105 (81.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 9,999 (14.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 456 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,768 (2.6% of population)
15. Allegany County
- Population: 47,159
- Born in New York: 38,605 (81.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,426 (15.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 270 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 858 (1.8% of population)
14. Cattaraugus County
- Population: 76,145
- Born in New York: 62,550 (82.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 11,961 (15.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 307 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,327 (1.7% of population)
13. Livingston County
- Population: 61,498
- Born in New York: 51,021 (83.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,968 (13.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 576 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,933 (3.1% of population)
12. Chenango County
- Population: 46,321
- Born in New York: 38,513 (83.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,312 (13.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 348 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,148 (2.5% of population)
11. Cortland County
- Population: 46,246
- Born in New York: 38,729 (83.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,828 (12.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 376 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,313 (2.8% of population)
10. Niagara County
- Population: 210,721
- Born in New York: 177,188 (84.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 21,794 (10.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 2,400 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 9,339 (4.4% of population)
9. Herkimer County
- Population: 59,757
- Born in New York: 50,377 (84.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,254 (12.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 383 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,743 (2.9% of population)
8. Orleans County
- Population: 39,608
- Born in New York: 33,513 (84.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,435 (11.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 259 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,401 (3.5% of population)
7. Wayne County
- Population: 90,929
- Born in New York: 77,302 (85.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 9,836 (10.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,151 (1.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,640 (2.9% of population)
6. Cayuga County
- Population: 75,102
- Born in New York: 64,274 (85.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,392 (11.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 490 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,946 (2.6% of population)
5. Lewis County
- Population: 26,607
- Born in New York: 22,876 (86.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,245 (12.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 123 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 363 (1.4% of population)
4. Oswego County
- Population: 117,953
- Born in New York: 101,420 (86.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 13,402 (11.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 818 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,313 (2.0% of population)
3. Fulton County
- Population: 52,487
- Born in New York: 45,325 (86.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,599 (10.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 337 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,226 (2.3% of population)
2. Wyoming County
- Population: 39,753
- Born in New York: 34,692 (87.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,678 (9.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 313 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,070 (2.7% of population)
1. Genesee County
- Population: 57,787
- Born in New York: 50,841 (88.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,782 (8.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 610 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,554 (2.7% of population)
