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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina residents live.
46. Beaufort County
- Population: 195,289
- Born in South Carolina: 50,142 (25.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 126,547 (64.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3,486 (1.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 15,114 (7.7% of population)
45. Horry County
- Population: 383,016
- Born in South Carolina: 126,557 (33.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 227,142 (59.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3,746 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 25,571 (6.7% of population)
44. York County
- Population: 293,673
- Born in South Carolina: 98,314 (33.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 171,710 (58.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3,835 (1.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 19,814 (6.7% of population)
43. Aiken County
- Population: 174,160
- Born in South Carolina: 62,619 (36.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 102,933 (59.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 2,862 (1.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 5,746 (3.3% of population)
42. Edgefield County
- Population: 27,476
- Born in South Carolina: 11,066 (40.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 15,121 (55.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 189 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,100 (4.0% of population)
41. Lancaster County
- Population: 104,475
- Born in South Carolina: 42,669 (40.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 53,257 (51.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,167 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 7,382 (7.1% of population)
40. Jasper County
- Population: 32,166
- Born in South Carolina: 13,965 (43.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 14,259 (44.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 335 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,607 (11.2% of population)
39. Charleston County
- Population: 420,264
- Born in South Carolina: 191,493 (45.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 194,414 (46.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 6,049 (1.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 28,308 (6.7% of population)
38. Berkeley County
- Population: 246,802
- Born in South Carolina: 118,657 (48.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 106,901 (43.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 4,633 (1.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 16,611 (6.7% of population)
37. Dorchester County
- Population: 167,201
- Born in South Carolina: 80,815 (48.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 74,341 (44.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 2,889 (1.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 9,156 (5.5% of population)
36. Greenville County
- Population: 548,166
- Born in South Carolina: 267,820 (48.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 224,725 (41.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 7,856 (1.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 47,765 (8.7% of population)
35. McCormick County
- Population: 9,760
- Born in South Carolina: 5,176 (53.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,430 (45.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 79 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 75 (0.8% of population)
34. Oconee County
- Population: 80,469
- Born in South Carolina: 43,723 (54.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 32,710 (40.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 649 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,387 (4.2% of population)
33. Richland County
- Population: 422,117
- Born in South Carolina: 233,293 (55.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 155,189 (36.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 8,431 (2.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 25,204 (6.0% of population)
32. Georgetown County
- Population: 64,811
- Born in South Carolina: 36,945 (57.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 25,873 (39.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 274 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,719 (2.7% of population)
31. Lexington County
- Population: 304,887
- Born in South Carolina: 174,311 (57.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 107,131 (35.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3,598 (1.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 19,847 (6.5% of population)
30. Spartanburg County
- Population: 347,852
- Born in South Carolina: 200,146 (57.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 113,419 (32.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3,995 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 30,292 (8.7% of population)
29. Pickens County
- Population: 134,629
- Born in South Carolina: 79,774 (59.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 49,112 (36.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 968 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 4,775 (3.5% of population)
28. Sumter County
- Population: 104,725
- Born in South Carolina: 64,902 (62.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 34,859 (33.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,822 (1.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,142 (3.0% of population)
27. Chesterfield County
- Population: 43,784
- Born in South Carolina: 27,208 (62.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 14,801 (33.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 212 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,563 (3.6% of population)
26. Anderson County
- Population: 210,478
- Born in South Carolina: 131,805 (62.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 68,940 (32.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,433 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 8,300 (3.9% of population)
25. Kershaw County
- Population: 68,314
- Born in South Carolina: 43,361 (63.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 21,589 (31.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,148 (1.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,216 (3.2% of population)
24. Marlboro County
- Population: 25,975
- Born in South Carolina: 17,364 (66.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,812 (30.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 246 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 553 (2.1% of population)
23. Cherokee County
- Population: 56,647
- Born in South Carolina: 38,399 (67.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 16,302 (28.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 158 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,788 (3.2% of population)
22. Saluda County
- Population: 19,131
- Born in South Carolina: 13,399 (70.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,940 (20.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 399 (2.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,393 (7.3% of population)
21. Barnwell County
- Population: 20,521
- Born in South Carolina: 14,545 (70.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,203 (25.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 280 (1.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 493 (2.4% of population)
20. Abbeville County
- Population: 24,420
- Born in South Carolina: 17,422 (71.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,392 (26.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 38 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 568 (2.3% of population)
19. Colleton County
- Population: 38,783
- Born in South Carolina: 27,800 (71.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 9,390 (24.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 279 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,314 (3.4% of population)
18. Newberry County
- Population: 38,435
- Born in South Carolina: 27,667 (72.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,207 (21.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 687 (1.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,874 (4.9% of population)
17. Clarendon County
- Population: 30,986
- Born in South Carolina: 22,387 (72.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,722 (24.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 297 (1.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 580 (1.9% of population)
16. Laurens County
- Population: 68,666
- Born in South Carolina: 49,844 (72.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 15,791 (23.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 405 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,626 (3.8% of population)
15. Greenwood County
- Population: 69,489
- Born in South Carolina: 50,832 (73.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 16,043 (23.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 311 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,303 (3.3% of population)
14. Allendale County
- Population: 7,661
- Born in South Carolina: 5,688 (74.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,806 (23.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 95 (1.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 72 (0.9% of population)
13. Florence County
- Population: 137,117
- Born in South Carolina: 102,290 (74.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 29,533 (21.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1,209 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 4,085 (3.0% of population)
12. Chester County
- Population: 32,182
- Born in South Carolina: 24,071 (74.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,588 (23.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 104 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 419 (1.3% of population)
11. Calhoun County
- Population: 14,182
- Born in South Carolina: 10,812 (76.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,963 (20.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 129 (0.9% of population)
- Born in another country: 278 (2.0% of population)
10. Fairfield County
- Population: 20,550
- Born in South Carolina: 15,722 (76.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,502 (21.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 98 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 228 (1.1% of population)
9. Darlington County
- Population: 62,558
- Born in South Carolina: 48,426 (77.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 12,585 (20.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 380 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,167 (1.9% of population)
8. Lee County
- Population: 16,166
- Born in South Carolina: 12,592 (77.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,112 (19.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 82 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 380 (2.4% of population)
7. Orangeburg County
- Population: 83,253
- Born in South Carolina: 65,724 (78.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 15,140 (18.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 547 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,842 (2.2% of population)
6. Union County
- Population: 26,885
- Born in South Carolina: 21,603 (80.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,706 (17.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 185 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 391 (1.5% of population)
5. Marion County
- Population: 28,664
- Born in South Carolina: 23,122 (80.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,135 (17.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 5 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 402 (1.4% of population)
4. Dillon County
- Population: 27,862
- Born in South Carolina: 22,528 (80.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,820 (17.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 132 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 382 (1.4% of population)
3. Hampton County
- Population: 18,254
- Born in South Carolina: 14,866 (81.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,835 (15.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 140 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 413 (2.3% of population)
2. Williamsburg County
- Population: 30,282
- Born in South Carolina: 24,702 (81.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,683 (15.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 208 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 689 (2.3% of population)
1. Bamberg County
- Population: 13,042
- Born in South Carolina: 10,646 (81.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,160 (16.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 69 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 167 (1.3% of population)
