What does this born abroad ranking show?

It orders states by Share of residents born outside the United States. It is a comparison of this one published measure, not an overall ranking of where to live.

Where do these figures come from?

U.S. Census Bureau supplies this measure. States without a comparable published value are shown as not ranked rather than estimated.

How should I use this ranking?

Use it to narrow a search, then open a state or county profile for the underlying figures, source dates and caveats. A statewide number may not describe every neighbourhood.

Rankings · Place

Highest born abroad by state

Share of residents born outside the United States.

This measure has no better end. The order describes the states, it does not rank them — see the other direction.

Residents born outside the United States, including naturalised citizens. A plain count of where people were born, not of citizenship or of recent arrival — someone who arrived as a child fifty years ago is counted here.

How to read this ranking

California has the highest published born abroad in this comparison, at 27.0%. The next states shown are New Jersey (23.9%) and New York (22.8%).

The table orders 51 states by share of residents born outside the united states. It describes one published measure, not an overall judgment about where to live.

Use the result as a starting point, then compare the underlying source, dates, and local county figures before making a decision. Residents born outside the United States, including naturalised citizens. A plain count of where people were born, not of citizenship or of recent arrival — someone who arrived as a child fifty years ago is counted here.

1California27.0%
2New Jersey23.9%
3New York22.8%
4Florida21.9%
5Nevada19.1%
6Massachusetts18.0%
7Hawaii17.9%
8Texas17.6%
9Maryland16.6%
10Connecticut15.7%
11Washington15.4%
12Rhode Island15.3%
13Illinois14.7%
14District of Columbia14.3%
15Virginia13.1%
16Arizona13.0%
17Georgia11.2%
18Delaware10.7%
19Colorado9.8%
20Oregon9.8%
21New Mexico9.4%
22North Carolina9.1%
23Utah8.9%
24Minnesota8.7%
25Nebraska8.1%
26Alaska7.7%
27Pennsylvania7.7%
28Kansas7.4%
29Michigan7.2%
30Indiana6.3%
31Oklahoma6.3%
32New Hampshire6.1%
33Tennessee6.1%
34Iowa5.9%
35Idaho5.9%
36South Carolina5.8%
37Arkansas5.4%
38Ohio5.2%
39Wisconsin5.2%
40Louisiana4.9%
41Kentucky4.7%
42North Dakota4.7%
43Missouri4.5%
44Vermont4.3%
45Maine4.1%
46Alabama4.0%
47South Dakota4.0%
48Wyoming3.5%
49Mississippi2.4%
50Montana2.3%
51West Virginia1.8%

Related place rankings

Frequently asked questions

What does this ranking show?: It orders states by Share of residents born outside the United States. It is one measure, not an overall verdict on where to live.
Where do the figures come from?: U.S. Census Bureau. States without a comparable published figure are listed as not ranked rather than estimated.
How should I use it?: Use it to narrow your search, then open a state or county profile for the source date, caveats and local context.

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<iframe src="https://movermath.com/embed/born-abroad" width="100%" height="420" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Share of residents born outside the United States by state"></iframe>

Source: U.S. Census Bureau. · How this is built

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