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 Washington 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 Washington residents live.
39. Asotin County
- Population: 22,467
- Born in Washington: 5,282 (23.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 16,387 (72.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 189 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 609 (2.7% of population)
38. Skamania County
- Population: 12,402
- Born in Washington: 3,936 (31.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,912 (63.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 69 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 485 (3.9% of population)
37. Klickitat County
- Population: 23,411
- Born in Washington: 7,708 (32.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 13,492 (57.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 154 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,057 (8.8% of population)
36. San Juan County
- Population: 18,478
- Born in Washington: 6,227 (33.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 10,641 (57.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 321 (1.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,289 (7.0% of population)
35. Clark County
- Population: 516,959
- Born in Washington: 180,238 (34.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 273,110 (52.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 6,763 (1.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 56,848 (11.0% of population)
34. Island County
- Population: 86,836
- Born in Washington: 32,120 (37.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 46,131 (53.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,628 (1.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 6,957 (8.0% of population)
33. Wahkiakum County
- Population: 4,658
- Born in Washington: 1,763 (37.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,751 (59.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 35 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 109 (2.3% of population)
32. Jefferson County
- Population: 33,577
- Born in Washington: 12,951 (38.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 18,302 (54.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 706 (2.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,618 (4.8% of population)
31. King County
- Population: 2,287,171
- Born in Washington: 889,330 (38.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 764,396 (33.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 44,067 (1.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 589,378 (25.8% of population)
30. Pacific County
- Population: 23,994
- Born in Washington: 10,037 (41.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 12,331 (51.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 363 (1.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,263 (5.3% of population)
29. Kitsap County
- Population: 277,881
- Born in Washington: 117,262 (42.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 133,629 (48.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 7,067 (2.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 19,923 (7.2% of population)
28. Whitman County
- Population: 47,003
- Born in Washington: 21,181 (45.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 21,396 (45.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 892 (1.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,534 (7.5% of population)
27. Thurston County
- Population: 299,067
- Born in Washington: 136,109 (45.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 129,437 (43.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 8,806 (2.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 24,715 (8.3% of population)
26. Garfield County
- Population: 2,353
- Born in Washington: 1,077 (45.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,179 (50.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 44 (1.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 53 (2.3% of population)
25. Clallam County
- Population: 77,813
- Born in Washington: 36,248 (46.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 37,338 (48.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 748 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,479 (4.5% of population)
24. Snohomish County
- Population: 844,430
- Born in Washington: 416,397 (49.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 251,035 (29.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 13,983 (1.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 163,015 (19.3% of population)
23. Pierce County
- Population: 930,319
- Born in Washington: 467,446 (50.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 333,189 (35.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 28,277 (3.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 101,407 (10.9% of population)
22. Walla Walla County
- Population: 62,161
- Born in Washington: 31,518 (50.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 23,312 (37.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,411 (2.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 5,920 (9.5% of population)
21. Whatcom County
- Population: 230,503
- Born in Washington: 117,096 (50.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 85,159 (36.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 5,346 (2.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 22,902 (9.9% of population)
20. Cowlitz County
- Population: 112,360
- Born in Washington: 58,559 (52.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 47,791 (42.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,207 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 4,803 (4.3% of population)
19. Pend Oreille County
- Population: 14,050
- Born in Washington: 7,382 (52.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,263 (44.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 115 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 290 (2.1% of population)
18. Franklin County
- Population: 98,902
- Born in Washington: 52,068 (52.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 24,629 (24.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,608 (1.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 20,597 (20.8% of population)
17. Benton County
- Population: 212,905
- Born in Washington: 112,467 (52.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 73,780 (34.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 2,308 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 24,350 (11.4% of population)
16. Spokane County
- Population: 549,056
- Born in Washington: 295,517 (53.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 215,336 (39.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 8,446 (1.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 29,757 (5.4% of population)
15. Adams County
- Population: 20,800
- Born in Washington: 11,374 (54.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,190 (20.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 149 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 5,087 (24.5% of population)
14. Mason County
- Population: 67,982
- Born in Washington: 37,212 (54.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 25,083 (36.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 959 (1.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 4,728 (7.0% of population)
13. Skagit County
- Population: 131,328
- Born in Washington: 72,868 (55.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 44,925 (34.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,724 (1.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 11,811 (9.0% of population)
12. Chelan County
- Population: 80,172
- Born in Washington: 45,260 (56.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 22,753 (28.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 938 (1.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 11,221 (14.0% of population)
11. Stevens County
- Population: 48,067
- Born in Washington: 27,557 (57.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 18,949 (39.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 652 (1.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 909 (1.9% of population)
10. Douglas County
- Population: 44,366
- Born in Washington: 25,484 (57.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 11,471 (25.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 352 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 7,059 (15.9% of population)
9. Grant County
- Population: 101,799
- Born in Washington: 60,284 (59.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 24,206 (23.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 878 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 16,431 (16.1% of population)
8. Okanogan County
- Population: 43,425
- Born in Washington: 26,449 (60.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 10,833 (24.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 423 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 5,720 (13.2% of population)
7. Ferry County
- Population: 7,387
- Born in Washington: 4,519 (61.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,457 (33.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 230 (3.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 181 (2.5% of population)
6. Lewis County
- Population: 85,154
- Born in Washington: 52,273 (61.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 27,300 (32.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,055 (1.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 4,526 (5.3% of population)
5. Yakima County
- Population: 257,152
- Born in Washington: 157,999 (61.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 49,489 (19.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 2,833 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 46,831 (18.2% of population)
4. Columbia County
- Population: 4,014
- Born in Washington: 2,479 (61.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,308 (32.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 26 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 201 (5.0% of population)
3. Lincoln County
- Population: 11,489
- Born in Washington: 7,202 (62.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,955 (34.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 114 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 218 (1.9% of population)
2. Grays Harbor County
- Population: 77,053
- Born in Washington: 48,513 (63.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 23,107 (30.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,139 (1.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 4,294 (5.6% of population)
1. Kittitas County
- Population: 47,172
- Born in Washington: 30,114 (63.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 14,199 (30.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 591 (1.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,268 (4.8% of population)
