DENVER (Stacker) — 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 Colorado 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.
#50. La Plata County
– Population: 56,138
– Born in Colorado: 20,201 (36.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 33,726 (60.1% of population)
— Midwest (16.2%), Northeast (6.8%), South (13.3%), West (23.8%)
– Born in another country: 1,333 (2.37% of population)
— Africa (0.16%) , Asia (0.53%), Europe (0.57%), Latin America (0.92%), North America (0.14%), Oceania (0.05%)
#49. Park County
– Population: 18,345
– Born in Colorado: 6,626 (36.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 11,385 (62.1% of population)
— Midwest (25.5%), Northeast (7.9%), South (11.3%), West (17.3%)
– Born in another country: 225 (1.23% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.40%), Europe (0.53%), Latin America (0.19%), North America (0.11%), Oceania (0.00%)
#48. Douglas County
– Population: 344,280
– Born in Colorado: 127,340 (37.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 186,028 (54.0% of population)
— Midwest (19.1%), Northeast (7.0%), South (12.0%), West (15.9%)
– Born in another country: 26,262 (7.63% of population)
— Africa (0.34%) , Asia (3.89%), Europe (1.21%), Latin America (1.57%), North America (0.49%), Oceania (0.13%)
#47. Lake County
– Population: 7,845
– Born in Colorado: 2,911 (37.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 4,076 (52.0% of population)
— Midwest (16.0%), Northeast (10.9%), South (10.6%), West (14.5%)
– Born in another country: 782 (9.97% of population)
— Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.46%), Europe (0.37%), Latin America (9.00%), North America (0.10%), Oceania (0.00%)
#46. Clear Creek County
– Population: 9,533
– Born in Colorado: 3,572 (37.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 5,540 (58.1% of population)
— Midwest (23.7%), Northeast (10.8%), South (10.2%), West (13.4%)
– Born in another country: 209 (2.19% of population)
— Africa (0.24%) , Asia (0.47%), Europe (1.19%), Latin America (0.12%), North America (0.18%), Oceania (0.00%)
#45. Grand County
– Population: 15,536
– Born in Colorado: 5,858 (37.7% of population)
– Born in a different state: 8,892 (57.2% of population)
— Midwest (23.7%), Northeast (7.6%), South (11.6%), West (14.3%)
– Born in another country: 603 (3.88% of population)
— Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.52%), Europe (0.87%), Latin America (1.93%), North America (0.55%), Oceania (0.00%)
#44. Gunnison County
– Population: 17,119
– Born in Colorado: 6,474 (37.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 9,739 (56.9% of population)
— Midwest (20.6%), Northeast (11.4%), South (12.0%), West (12.8%)
– Born in another country: 682 (3.98% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.36%), Europe (1.31%), Latin America (1.22%), North America (0.99%), Oceania (0.11%)
#43. Broomfield
– Population: 69,444
– Born in Colorado: 26,883 (38.7% of population)
– Born in a different state: 34,715 (50.0% of population)
— Midwest (18.4%), Northeast (8.1%), South (11.6%), West (11.9%)
– Born in another country: 6,963 (10.03% of population)
— Africa (0.33%) , Asia (4.64%), Europe (1.54%), Latin America (2.99%), North America (0.43%), Oceania (0.10%)
#42. Denver
– Population: 715,878
– Born in Colorado: 285,760 (39.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 318,544 (44.5% of population)
— Midwest (14.9%), Northeast (8.0%), South (11.1%), West (10.5%)
– Born in another country: 100,469 (14.03% of population)
— Africa (1.19%) , Asia (2.89%), Europe (1.43%), Latin America (8.14%), North America (0.28%), Oceania (0.10%)
#41. Custer County
– Population: 4,941
– Born in Colorado: 1,993 (40.3% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,687 (54.4% of population)
— Midwest (22.6%), Northeast (5.8%), South (14.3%), West (11.7%)
– Born in another country: 193 (3.91% of population)
— Africa (1.78%) , Asia (0.36%), Europe (0.73%), Latin America (1.03%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#40. Larimer County
– Population: 350,523
– Born in Colorado: 141,751 (40.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 184,514 (52.6% of population)
— Midwest (20.8%), Northeast (7.1%), South (10.6%), West (14.2%)
– Born in another country: 19,976 (5.70% of population)
— Africa (0.25%) , Asia (1.95%), Europe (1.16%), Latin America (2.09%), North America (0.19%), Oceania (0.06%)
#39. Arapahoe County
– Population: 649,980
– Born in Colorado: 264,624 (40.7% of population)
– Born in a different state: 274,677 (42.3% of population)
— Midwest (14.9%), Northeast (6.1%), South (10.0%), West (11.2%)
– Born in another country: 99,586 (15.32% of population)
— Africa (2.33%) , Asia (5.03%), Europe (1.69%), Latin America (5.81%), North America (0.29%), Oceania (0.17%)
#38. Jackson County
– Population: 1,316
– Born in Colorado: 545 (41.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 715 (54.3% of population)
— Midwest (19.7%), Northeast (10.4%), South (8.1%), West (16.1%)
– Born in another country: 56 (4.26% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (4.26%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#37. Montezuma County
– Population: 26,266
– Born in Colorado: 10,899 (41.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 14,261 (54.3% of population)
— Midwest (9.9%), Northeast (6.1%), South (10.8%), West (27.4%)
– Born in another country: 912 (3.47% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.72%), Europe (0.30%), Latin America (2.24%), North America (0.18%), Oceania (0.03%)
#36. Chaffee County
– Population: 19,977
– Born in Colorado: 8,482 (42.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 10,341 (51.8% of population)
— Midwest (20.6%), Northeast (8.6%), South (13.9%), West (8.6%)
– Born in another country: 761 (3.81% of population)
— Africa (0.78%) , Asia (0.79%), Europe (0.45%), Latin America (1.28%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.51%)
#35. Garfield County
– Population: 59,605
– Born in Colorado: 26,315 (44.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 24,135 (40.5% of population)
— Midwest (14.4%), Northeast (6.2%), South (8.2%), West (11.6%)
– Born in another country: 8,361 (14.03% of population)
— Africa (0.02%) , Asia (0.54%), Europe (1.13%), Latin America (12.19%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.09%)
#34. Fremont County
– Population: 47,725
– Born in Colorado: 21,375 (44.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 24,667 (51.7% of population)
— Midwest (18.5%), Northeast (5.5%), South (13.5%), West (14.2%)
– Born in another country: 1,217 (2.55% of population)
— Africa (0.19%) , Asia (0.59%), Europe (0.74%), Latin America (0.99%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (0.01%)
#33. Jefferson County
– Population: 578,795
– Born in Colorado: 265,680 (45.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 269,380 (46.5% of population)
— Midwest (18.1%), Northeast (7.0%), South (9.9%), West (11.6%)
– Born in another country: 36,152 (6.25% of population)
— Africa (0.26%) , Asia (2.03%), Europe (1.36%), Latin America (2.26%), North America (0.26%), Oceania (0.08%)
#32. Elbert County
– Population: 26,230
– Born in Colorado: 12,194 (46.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 13,112 (50.0% of population)
— Midwest (18.3%), Northeast (7.3%), South (7.8%), West (16.6%)
– Born in another country: 665 (2.54% of population)
— Africa (0.13%) , Asia (0.28%), Europe (0.58%), Latin America (1.12%), North America (0.10%), Oceania (0.32%)
#31. Dolores County
– Population: 1,896
– Born in Colorado: 896 (47.3% of population)
– Born in a different state: 909 (47.9% of population)
— Midwest (10.2%), Northeast (4.6%), South (9.3%), West (23.8%)
– Born in another country: 20 (1.05% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.32%), Latin America (0.32%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.42%)
#30. Rio Blanco County
– Population: 6,369
– Born in Colorado: 3,083 (48.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,969 (46.6% of population)
— Midwest (9.8%), Northeast (2.5%), South (11.9%), West (22.4%)
– Born in another country: 218 (3.42% of population)
— Africa (0.02%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.66%), Latin America (2.51%), North America (0.24%), Oceania (0.00%)
#29. Montrose County
– Population: 42,280
– Born in Colorado: 20,513 (48.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 18,295 (43.3% of population)
— Midwest (13.5%), Northeast (3.0%), South (9.9%), West (16.9%)
– Born in another country: 3,166 (7.49% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.66%), Europe (0.51%), Latin America (6.23%), North America (0.10%), Oceania (0.00%)
#28. Moffat County
– Population: 13,150
– Born in Colorado: 6,509 (49.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 5,607 (42.6% of population)
— Midwest (10.8%), Northeast (4.0%), South (9.6%), West (18.2%)
– Born in another country: 950 (7.22% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.04%), Europe (1.25%), Latin America (5.76%), North America (0.18%), Oceania (0.00%)
#27. Mesa County
– Population: 152,962
– Born in Colorado: 75,781 (49.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 69,598 (45.5% of population)
— Midwest (12.4%), Northeast (4.3%), South (8.6%), West (20.2%)
– Born in another country: 6,303 (4.12% of population)
— Africa (0.11%) , Asia (0.81%), Europe (0.79%), Latin America (2.28%), North America (0.11%), Oceania (0.03%)
#26. Las Animas County
– Population: 14,323
– Born in Colorado: 7,269 (50.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 6,378 (44.5% of population)
— Midwest (11.3%), Northeast (2.7%), South (11.5%), West (19.1%)
– Born in another country: 467 (3.26% of population)
— Africa (0.11%) , Asia (0.63%), Europe (0.59%), Latin America (1.76%), North America (0.13%), Oceania (0.03%)
#25. Saguache County
– Population: 6,730
– Born in Colorado: 3,451 (51.3% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,751 (40.9% of population)
— Midwest (15.9%), Northeast (4.5%), South (9.2%), West (11.2%)
– Born in another country: 474 (7.04% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.03%), Europe (1.11%), Latin America (5.48%), North America (0.42%), Oceania (0.00%)
#24. Adams County
– Population: 509,844
– Born in Colorado: 264,034 (51.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 161,932 (31.8% of population)
— Midwest (11.0%), Northeast (3.5%), South (6.8%), West (10.5%)
– Born in another country: 75,530 (14.81% of population)
— Africa (0.71%) , Asia (2.77%), Europe (0.77%), Latin America (10.41%), North America (0.12%), Oceania (0.04%)
#23. Delta County
– Population: 30,758
– Born in Colorado: 16,267 (52.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 12,800 (41.6% of population)
— Midwest (13.2%), Northeast (4.5%), South (7.0%), West (16.9%)
– Born in another country: 1,375 (4.47% of population)
— Africa (0.07%) , Asia (0.66%), Europe (0.65%), Latin America (2.74%), North America (0.35%), Oceania (0.00%)
#22. Baca County
– Population: 3,570
– Born in Colorado: 1,892 (53.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,495 (41.9% of population)
— Midwest (20.1%), Northeast (2.3%), South (14.9%), West (4.6%)
– Born in another country: 156 (4.37% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.42%), Latin America (2.55%), North America (0.84%), Oceania (0.56%)
#21. Weld County
– Population: 315,389
– Born in Colorado: 169,212 (53.7% of population)
– Born in a different state: 114,536 (36.3% of population)
— Midwest (13.3%), Northeast (3.6%), South (7.9%), West (11.5%)
– Born in another country: 28,081 (8.90% of population)
— Africa (0.54%) , Asia (0.98%), Europe (0.48%), Latin America (6.73%), North America (0.10%), Oceania (0.06%)
#20. Huerfano County
– Population: 6,769
– Born in Colorado: 3,634 (53.7% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,957 (43.7% of population)
— Midwest (13.1%), Northeast (3.0%), South (13.7%), West (13.8%)
– Born in another country: 153 (2.26% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.38%), Europe (0.34%), Latin America (1.54%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#19. Phillips County
– Population: 4,343
– Born in Colorado: 2,362 (54.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,137 (26.2% of population)
— Midwest (11.2%), Northeast (2.4%), South (6.3%), West (6.3%)
– Born in another country: 839 (19.32% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.32%), Europe (0.28%), Latin America (18.70%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.00%)
#18. Costilla County
– Population: 3,810
– Born in Colorado: 2,125 (55.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,427 (37.5% of population)
— Midwest (9.7%), Northeast (4.1%), South (6.9%), West (16.9%)
– Born in another country: 237 (6.22% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.13%), Europe (0.58%), Latin America (5.51%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#17. Morgan County
– Population: 28,617
– Born in Colorado: 16,229 (56.7% of population)
– Born in a different state: 8,135 (28.4% of population)
— Midwest (10.2%), Northeast (1.9%), South (6.1%), West (10.2%)
– Born in another country: 3,932 (13.74% of population)
— Africa (1.98%) , Asia (0.38%), Europe (0.26%), Latin America (10.89%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.17%)
#16. Crowley County
– Population: 5,733
– Born in Colorado: 3,328 (58.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,117 (36.9% of population)
— Midwest (9.9%), Northeast (3.7%), South (7.6%), West (15.8%)
– Born in another country: 215 (3.75% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (1.48%), Europe (0.02%), Latin America (1.48%), North America (0.28%), Oceania (0.49%)
#15. Logan County
– Population: 22,282
– Born in Colorado: 13,022 (58.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 7,927 (35.6% of population)
— Midwest (14.4%), Northeast (3.6%), South (6.4%), West (11.2%)
– Born in another country: 951 (4.27% of population)
— Africa (0.35%) , Asia (0.67%), Europe (0.33%), Latin America (2.69%), North America (0.19%), Oceania (0.04%)
#14. Sedgwick County
– Population: 2,306
– Born in Colorado: 1,353 (58.7% of population)
– Born in a different state: 860 (37.3% of population)
— Midwest (23.3%), Northeast (2.6%), South (5.8%), West (5.7%)
– Born in another country: 84 (3.64% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.09%), Europe (0.09%), Latin America (3.47%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#13. Kit Carson County
– Population: 7,246
– Born in Colorado: 4,281 (59.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,406 (33.2% of population)
— Midwest (19.8%), Northeast (1.4%), South (6.3%), West (5.7%)
– Born in another country: 532 (7.34% of population)
— Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.10%), Europe (0.91%), Latin America (6.24%), North America (0.08%), Oceania (0.00%)
#12. Lincoln County
– Population: 5,608
– Born in Colorado: 3,343 (59.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,037 (36.3% of population)
— Midwest (14.6%), Northeast (2.5%), South (7.9%), West (11.2%)
– Born in another country: 201 (3.58% of population)
— Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.16%), Europe (0.48%), Latin America (2.60%), North America (0.30%), Oceania (0.00%)
#11. Prowers County
– Population: 12,035
– Born in Colorado: 7,240 (60.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 3,528 (29.3% of population)
— Midwest (11.2%), Northeast (1.7%), South (9.4%), West (7.0%)
– Born in another country: 1,164 (9.67% of population)
— Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.29%), Europe (0.23%), Latin America (8.96%), North America (0.15%), Oceania (0.00%)
#10. Bent County
– Population: 5,677
– Born in Colorado: 3,454 (60.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,959 (34.5% of population)
— Midwest (10.6%), Northeast (1.9%), South (10.4%), West (11.5%)
– Born in another country: 222 (3.91% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.09%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (3.56%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (0.23%)
#9. Alamosa County
– Population: 16,153
– Born in Colorado: 9,842 (60.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 4,912 (30.4% of population)
— Midwest (6.3%), Northeast (3.4%), South (6.5%), West (14.2%)
– Born in another country: 1,237 (7.66% of population)
— Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.52%), Europe (0.45%), Latin America (6.67%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.01%)
#8. Rio Grande County
– Population: 11,300
– Born in Colorado: 7,065 (62.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 3,400 (30.1% of population)
— Midwest (7.7%), Northeast (2.5%), South (9.1%), West (10.8%)
– Born in another country: 686 (6.07% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.27%), Latin America (4.81%), North America (0.99%), Oceania (0.00%)
#7. Pueblo County
– Population: 167,412
– Born in Colorado: 106,636 (63.7% of population)
– Born in a different state: 53,723 (32.1% of population)
— Midwest (9.6%), Northeast (2.8%), South (7.5%), West (12.2%)
– Born in another country: 5,178 (3.09% of population)
— Africa (0.09%) , Asia (0.52%), Europe (0.43%), Latin America (1.95%), North America (0.07%), Oceania (0.04%)
#6. Kiowa County
– Population: 1,463
– Born in Colorado: 933 (63.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 520 (35.5% of population)
— Midwest (22.7%), Northeast (2.4%), South (4.9%), West (5.5%)
– Born in another country: 6 (0.41% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.34%), Latin America (0.07%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#5. Otero County
– Population: 18,284
– Born in Colorado: 11,777 (64.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 5,559 (30.4% of population)
— Midwest (9.3%), Northeast (1.9%), South (7.6%), West (11.6%)
– Born in another country: 812 (4.44% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.62%), Europe (0.36%), Latin America (3.41%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)
#4. Yuma County
– Population: 10,013
– Born in Colorado: 6,611 (66.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,157 (21.5% of population)
— Midwest (11.4%), Northeast (1.5%), South (2.7%), West (6.0%)
– Born in another country: 1,224 (12.22% of population)
— Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.15%), Latin America (12.07%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#3. Washington County
– Population: 4,869
– Born in Colorado: 3,293 (67.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,447 (29.7% of population)
— Midwest (10.8%), Northeast (2.4%), South (6.5%), West (10.0%)
– Born in another country: 111 (2.28% of population)
— Africa (0.12%) , Asia (0.62%), Europe (0.21%), Latin America (1.25%), North America (0.08%), Oceania (0.00%)
#2. Cheyenne County
– Population: 1,999
– Born in Colorado: 1,367 (68.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 497 (24.9% of population)
— Midwest (11.9%), Northeast (2.4%), South (5.9%), West (4.7%)
– Born in another country: 127 (6.35% of population)
— Africa (1.95%) , Asia (1.05%), Europe (0.10%), Latin America (3.25%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)
#1. Conejos County
– Population: 8,130
– Born in Colorado: 6,010 (73.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,913 (23.5% of population)
— Midwest (4.1%), Northeast (2.8%), South (4.8%), West (11.9%)
– Born in another country: 178 (2.19% of population)
— Africa (0.17%) , Asia (0.23%), Europe (0.09%), Latin America (1.48%), North America (0.20%), Oceania (0.02%)
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