Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in New Jersey
In the first year of the pandemic, migration out of like New York and San Francisco was especially notable. Many where the weather is warmer and the cost of living significantly lower.
But by the second year of the pandemic, it became clear that not everyone who was moving wanted to go far. A 2024 analysis of movement out of crowded cities from the U.S. Census Bureau showed that many people leaving city centers in the same metro area. In the Phoenix metro area, for example, growth rates are higher in more distant suburbs of Maricopa, Casa Grande, Coolidge, and Eloy compared to Scottsdale and Mesa.
According to the latest data from the Census Bureau, released in September 2023, 53.5% of people who moved in 2022 and an additional 24.3% remained in state, meaning more than three-quarters of movers stuck close to home.
Many young people in particular are remaining in the state, town, or even house that they grew up in. Before the pandemic, the number of was on the rise and those patterns have continued. A late 2023 survey released by Lending Tree found that 57% of millennials and Gen Zers .
Many people choose not to leave the state they were raised in for reasons ranging from wanting to be , to to leave, to sticking with a lower cost of living.
In order to determine where people stay put in your home state, compiled a list of counties with the most born-and-bred residents in New Jersey using data from the . Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents who were born in the state according to the latest data, which is 2023 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 Jersey residents live.
#21. Hudson County
- Population: 710,478
- Born in New Jersey: 248,303 (34.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 134,915 (19.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 24,753 (3.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 302,507 (42.6% of population)
#20. Bergen County
- Population: 954,717
- Born in New Jersey: 397,044 (41.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 236,964 (24.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 20,622 (2.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 300,087 (31.4% of population)
#19. Middlesex County
- Population: 861,535
- Born in New Jersey: 379,046 (44.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 164,265 (19.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 19,625 (2.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 298,599 (34.7% of population)
#18. Union County
- Population: 572,549
- Born in New Jersey: 268,239 (46.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 99,643 (17.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 16,585 (2.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 188,082 (32.8% of population)
#17. Essex County
- Population: 854,130
- Born in New Jersey: 404,546 (47.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 171,395 (20.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 27,783 (3.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 250,406 (29.3% of population)
#16. Mercer County
- Population: 383,286
- Born in New Jersey: 190,102 (49.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 82,706 (21.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 12,112 (3.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 98,366 (25.7% of population)
#15. Cape May County
- Population: 95,236
- Born in New Jersey: 47,611 (50.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 41,424 (43.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,654 (1.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 4,547 (4.8% of population)
#14. Passaic County
- Population: 518,289
- Born in New Jersey: 261,755 (50.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 67,769 (13.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 18,709 (3.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 170,056 (32.8% of population)
#13. Somerset County
- Population: 346,203
- Born in New Jersey: 175,460 (50.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 69,547 (20.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 6,037 (1.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 95,159 (27.5% of population)
#12. Burlington County
- Population: 464,226
- Born in New Jersey: 248,626 (53.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 153,672 (33.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 11,804 (2.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 50,124 (10.8% of population)
#11. Camden County
- Population: 524,042
- Born in New Jersey: 283,401 (54.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 160,130 (30.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 16,489 (3.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 64,022 (12.2% of population)
#10. Atlantic County
- Population: 274,704
- Born in New Jersey: 156,842 (57.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 64,733 (23.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 8,787 (3.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 44,342 (16.1% of population)
#9. Monmouth County
- Population: 643,615
- Born in New Jersey: 368,602 (57.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 178,091 (27.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 9,557 (1.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 87,365 (13.6% of population)
#8. Morris County
- Population: 510,375
- Born in New Jersey: 293,490 (57.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 108,492 (21.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 8,171 (1.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 100,222 (19.6% of population)
#7. Gloucester County
- Population: 304,504
- Born in New Jersey: 183,286 (60.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 98,860 (32.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 4,813 (1.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 17,545 (5.8% of population)
#6. Hunterdon County
- Population: 129,448
- Born in New Jersey: 80,368 (62.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 33,186 (25.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,450 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 14,444 (11.2% of population)
#5. Warren County
- Population: 110,238
- Born in New Jersey: 70,071 (63.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 27,209 (24.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,557 (1.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 11,401 (10.3% of population)
#4. Salem County
- Population: 64,973
- Born in New Jersey: 41,720 (64.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 19,634 (30.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,647 (2.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,972 (3.0% of population)
#3. Ocean County
- Population: 646,434
- Born in New Jersey: 429,295 (66.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 153,675 (23.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 12,000 (1.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 51,464 (8.0% of population)
#2. Cumberland County
- Population: 152,915
- Born in New Jersey: 102,008 (66.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 22,767 (14.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 9,617 (6.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 18,523 (12.1% of population)
#1. Sussex County
- Population: 145,117
- Born in New Jersey: 99,241 (68.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 31,415 (21.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,939 (1.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 12,522 (8.6% of population)
