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

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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts residents live.

14. Suffolk County
- Population: 785,121
- Born in Massachusetts: 336,128 (42.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 188,551 (24.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 26,403 (3.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 234,039 (29.8% of population)

13. Nantucket
- Population: 14,483
- Born in Massachusetts: 6,762 (46.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,985 (34.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 446 (3.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,290 (15.8% of population)

12. Dukes County
- Population: 20,933
- Born in Massachusetts: 10,877 (52.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,983 (33.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 174 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,899 (13.8% of population)

11. Middlesex County
- Population: 1,638,365
- Born in Massachusetts: 853,084 (52.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 371,977 (22.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 35,162 (2.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 378,142 (23.1% of population)

10. Norfolk County
- Population: 730,082
- Born in Massachusetts: 429,958 (58.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 148,314 (20.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 10,668 (1.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 141,142 (19.3% of population)

9. Barnstable County
- Population: 231,668
- Born in Massachusetts: 138,160 (59.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 67,198 (29.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3,379 (1.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 22,931 (9.9% of population)

8. Hampshire County
- Population: 162,028
- Born in Massachusetts: 99,589 (61.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 45,236 (27.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3,523 (2.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 13,680 (8.4% of population)

7. Essex County
- Population: 813,054
- Born in Massachusetts: 502,334 (61.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 132,070 (16.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 23,205 (2.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 155,445 (19.1% of population)

6. Berkshire County
- Population: 129,430
- Born in Massachusetts: 80,816 (62.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 38,757 (29.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,883 (1.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 7,974 (6.2% of population)

5. Hampden County
- Population: 462,815
- Born in Massachusetts: 293,473 (63.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 80,101 (17.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 45,548 (9.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 43,693 (9.4% of population)

4. Worcester County
- Population: 867,788
- Born in Massachusetts: 563,778 (65.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 146,190 (16.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 31,574 (3.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 126,246 (14.5% of population)

3. Bristol County
- Population: 582,270
- Born in Massachusetts: 380,147 (65.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 106,509 (18.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 16,276 (2.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 79,338 (13.6% of population)

2. Franklin County
- Population: 70,944
- Born in Massachusetts: 47,887 (67.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 18,726 (26.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 790 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,541 (5.0% of population)

1. Plymouth County
- Population: 535,075
- Born in Massachusetts: 392,818 (73.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 75,185 (14.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 7,226 (1.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 59,846 (11.2% of population)