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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania residents live.
50. Potter County
- Population: 16,188
- Born in Pennsylvania: 11,208 (69.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,665 (28.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 88 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 227 (1.4% of population)
49. Fulton County
- Population: 14,531
- Born in Pennsylvania: 10,100 (69.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,275 (29.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 85 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 71 (0.5% of population)
48. Tioga County
- Population: 40,945
- Born in Pennsylvania: 28,519 (69.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 11,651 (28.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 219 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 556 (1.4% of population)
47. McKean County
- Population: 39,904
- Born in Pennsylvania: 27,834 (69.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 11,311 (28.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 158 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 601 (1.5% of population)
46. Delaware County
- Population: 579,222
- Born in Pennsylvania: 404,310 (69.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 102,968 (17.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 6,920 (1.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 65,024 (11.2% of population)
45. Union County
- Population: 42,456
- Born in Pennsylvania: 29,691 (69.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 10,645 (25.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 483 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,637 (3.9% of population)
44. Luzerne County
- Population: 327,675
- Born in Pennsylvania: 229,961 (70.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 59,364 (18.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 6,796 (2.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 31,554 (9.6% of population)
43. Berks County
- Population: 433,015
- Born in Pennsylvania: 305,704 (70.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 66,018 (15.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 19,118 (4.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 42,175 (9.7% of population)
42. Bradford County
- Population: 59,858
- Born in Pennsylvania: 43,260 (72.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 15,232 (25.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 360 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,006 (1.7% of population)
41. Lackawanna County
- Population: 216,146
- Born in Pennsylvania: 159,315 (73.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 39,261 (18.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3,003 (1.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 14,567 (6.7% of population)
40. Lancaster County
- Population: 557,931
- Born in Pennsylvania: 412,649 (74.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 96,325 (17.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 16,524 (3.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 32,433 (5.8% of population)
39. Allegheny County
- Population: 1,238,177
- Born in Pennsylvania: 928,129 (75.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 217,580 (17.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 10,850 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 81,618 (6.6% of population)
38. Carbon County
- Population: 65,382
- Born in Pennsylvania: 49,505 (75.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 12,745 (19.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 684 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,448 (3.7% of population)
37. Lebanon County
- Population: 144,186
- Born in Pennsylvania: 109,841 (76.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 21,832 (15.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 6,241 (4.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 6,272 (4.3% of population)
36. Montour County
- Population: 18,103
- Born in Pennsylvania: 13,805 (76.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,072 (17.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 212 (1.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,014 (5.6% of population)
35. Erie County
- Population: 269,052
- Born in Pennsylvania: 208,884 (77.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 43,945 (16.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3,139 (1.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 13,084 (4.9% of population)
34. Warren County
- Population: 37,920
- Born in Pennsylvania: 29,704 (78.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,649 (20.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 130 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 437 (1.2% of population)
33. Forest County
- Population: 6,715
- Born in Pennsylvania: 5,290 (78.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,238 (18.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 57 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 130 (1.9% of population)
32. Wyoming County
- Population: 25,967
- Born in Pennsylvania: 20,611 (79.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,808 (18.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 115 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 433 (1.7% of population)
31. Bedford County
- Population: 47,513
- Born in Pennsylvania: 37,906 (79.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,761 (18.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 264 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 582 (1.2% of population)
30. Mercer County
- Population: 109,257
- Born in Pennsylvania: 87,622 (80.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 19,007 (17.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 695 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,933 (1.8% of population)
29. Sullivan County
- Population: 5,888
- Born in Pennsylvania: 4,724 (80.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,014 (17.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 45 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 105 (1.8% of population)
28. Cameron County
- Population: 4,427
- Born in Pennsylvania: 3,602 (81.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 767 (17.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 20 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 38 (0.9% of population)
27. Washington County
- Population: 210,042
- Born in Pennsylvania: 170,932 (81.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 33,277 (15.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 716 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 5,117 (2.4% of population)
26. Butler County
- Population: 197,254
- Born in Pennsylvania: 160,936 (81.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 30,203 (15.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,341 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 4,774 (2.4% of population)
25. Crawford County
- Population: 82,716
- Born in Pennsylvania: 67,662 (81.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 13,494 (16.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 567 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 993 (1.2% of population)
24. Beaver County
- Population: 166,324
- Born in Pennsylvania: 136,211 (81.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 26,083 (15.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 950 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,080 (1.9% of population)
23. Fayette County
- Population: 125,997
- Born in Pennsylvania: 103,716 (82.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 20,223 (16.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 439 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,619 (1.3% of population)
22. Columbia County
- Population: 65,362
- Born in Pennsylvania: 53,876 (82.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 9,327 (14.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 348 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,811 (2.8% of population)
21. Lycoming County
- Population: 113,489
- Born in Pennsylvania: 94,218 (83.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 16,737 (14.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 728 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,806 (1.6% of population)
20. Snyder County
- Population: 39,668
- Born in Pennsylvania: 32,986 (83.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,620 (14.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 397 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 665 (1.7% of population)
19. Schuylkill County
- Population: 143,558
- Born in Pennsylvania: 119,780 (83.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 17,765 (12.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 2,068 (1.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,945 (2.7% of population)
18. Lawrence County
- Population: 85,024
- Born in Pennsylvania: 71,072 (83.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 12,183 (14.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 644 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,125 (1.3% of population)
17. Indiana County
- Population: 83,042
- Born in Pennsylvania: 69,601 (83.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 10,734 (12.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 690 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,017 (2.4% of population)
16. Huntingdon County
- Population: 43,653
- Born in Pennsylvania: 36,889 (84.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,062 (13.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 303 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 399 (0.9% of population)
15. Somerset County
- Population: 72,799
- Born in Pennsylvania: 61,753 (84.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 9,754 (13.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 303 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 989 (1.4% of population)
14. Clarion County
- Population: 37,179
- Born in Pennsylvania: 31,546 (84.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,086 (13.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 172 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 375 (1.0% of population)
13. Northumberland County
- Population: 90,560
- Born in Pennsylvania: 77,075 (85.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 10,934 (12.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,110 (1.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,441 (1.6% of population)
12. Westmoreland County
- Population: 352,500
- Born in Pennsylvania: 301,296 (85.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 42,773 (12.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,641 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 6,790 (1.9% of population)
11. Venango County
- Population: 49,801
- Born in Pennsylvania: 42,906 (86.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,281 (12.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 195 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 419 (0.8% of population)
10. Clearfield County
- Population: 78,635
- Born in Pennsylvania: 67,845 (86.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,751 (11.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 495 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,544 (2.0% of population)
9. Perry County
- Population: 46,239
- Born in Pennsylvania: 40,041 (86.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,053 (10.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 365 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 780 (1.7% of population)
8. Blair County
- Population: 121,277
- Born in Pennsylvania: 105,427 (86.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 13,476 (11.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 537 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,837 (1.5% of population)
7. Cambria County
- Population: 131,538
- Born in Pennsylvania: 114,733 (87.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 14,680 (11.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 639 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,486 (1.1% of population)
6. Clinton County
- Population: 37,798
- Born in Pennsylvania: 32,977 (87.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,099 (10.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 181 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 541 (1.4% of population)
5. Jefferson County
- Population: 43,864
- Born in Pennsylvania: 38,319 (87.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,146 (11.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 210 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 189 (0.4% of population)
4. Elk County
- Population: 30,506
- Born in Pennsylvania: 27,239 (89.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,788 (9.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 153 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 326 (1.1% of population)
3. Mifflin County
- Population: 46,041
- Born in Pennsylvania: 41,333 (89.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,832 (8.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 316 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 560 (1.2% of population)
2. Juniata County
- Population: 23,379
- Born in Pennsylvania: 20,997 (89.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,562 (6.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 246 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 574 (2.5% of population)
1. Armstrong County
- Population: 64,622
- Born in Pennsylvania: 58,512 (90.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,410 (8.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 218 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 482 (0.7% of population)