U.S. Department of Commerce

Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

Lifetime Mobility in the 

United States: 2010

American Community Survey Briefs

Issued November 2011

ACSBR/10-07

By

Ping Ren

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. population is characterized by 

high mobility. Each year many Americans 

leave their place of birth to reside in 

a different part of the country.1 The 

population mobility has crucial impact on 

individuals, as well as local demographics 

and economies. This brief examines lifetime mobility in the United States using 

place of birth and current residence data 

from the 2010 American Community 

Survey (ACS). In addition, it examines 

how such mobility varies by age and geographical area. 

Place of birth has long been an important 

measure of domestic mobility in the 

U.S. census.2 Starting in 1960, the decennial census asked the question on place 

of birth on the long-form questionnaire. 

While the census long-form questionnaire was discontinued after 2000, 

the ACS, the long-form replacement, 

includes the place of birth question and 

thus provides data for this report.

This report is one of a series produced 

to highlight results from the 2010 ACS. 

The ACS provides detailed estimates 

of demographic, social, economic, and 

housing characteristics for congressional districts, counties, places, and other 

localities each year. A description of the 

ACS is provided in the text box “What Is 

the American Community Survey?”

1 Frey, William H. (2009). “The Great American 

Migration Slowdown: Regional and Metropolitan 

Dimensions.” Brookings Policy Brief. Washington, DC: 

Brookings Institute. 2 Long, Larry E. (1988). Migration and Residential 

Mobility in the United States. Population of the United 

States in the 1980s: Census Monograph Series. New 

York: Russell Sage Foundation.

Lifetime Mobility: Most people in 

the United States live in the state in 

which they were born.

The comparison of data on state of 

residence in 2010 to data on state and 

region of birth reflects the cumulative 

effect of long-term patterns of migration. Fifty-nine percent of people in the 

United States were born in their state of 

residence (Table 1). However, there is 

WHAT IS THE AMERICAN 

COMMUNITY SURVEY?

The American Community Survey 

(ACS) is a nationwide survey 

designed to provide communities with reliable and timely 

demographic, social, economic, 

and housing data for the nation, 

states, congressional districts, 

counties, places, and other localities every year. It has an annual 

sample size of about 3 million 

addresses across the United States 

and Puerto Rico and includes both 

housing units and group quarters (e.g., nursing facilities and 

prisons). The ACS is conducted 

in every county throughout the 

nation, and every municipio in 

Puerto Rico, where it is called 

the Puerto Rico Community 

Survey. Beginning in 2006, ACS 

data for 2005 were released for 

geographic areas with populations of 65,000 and greater. For 

information on the ACS sample 

design and other topics, visit 

<www.census.gov/acs/www>.
2 U.S. Census Bureau

Table 1. 

Place of Birth for the United States and Puerto Rico by Region and State: 2010

(For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see www.census.gov/acs/www)

Place of residence in 2010

Total 

population

Born in United States Born in Puerto Rico, U.S. 

Island Areas, or born 

abroad to U.S. parent(s)

Foreign born Born in state of 

residence

Born outside state of 

residence

Percent

Margin of 

error (±)1 Percent

Margin of 

error (±)1 Percent

Margin of 

error (±)1 Percent

Margin of 

error (±)1

 United States . . . . . 309,349,689 58 .8 0 .1 27 .0 0 .1 1 .4 0 .1 12 .9 0 .1

Regions

Northeast ................ 55,361,036 62.9 0.1 19.3 0.1 2.2 0.1 15.6 0.1

Midwest ................. 66,975,848 70.2 0.1 22.4 0.1 0.7 0.1 6.7 0.1

South ................... 114,865,724 56.0 0.1 31.5 0.1 1.4 0.1 11.1 0.1

West ................... 72,147,081 49.3 0.1 29.9 0.1 1.3 0.1 19.6 0.1

States

Alabama ................ 4,785,298 70.0 0.4 25.8 0.4 0.7 0.1 3.5 0.1

Alaska .................. 713,985 39.0 0.9 51.9 1.0 2.2 0.3 6.9 0.5

Arizona ................. 6,413,737 37.7 0.4 47.8 0.4 1.2 0.1 13.4 0.3

Arkansas ................ 2,921,606 61.3 0.5 33.5 0.5 0.6 0.1 4.5 0.2

California ................ 37,349,363 53.8 0.2 17.8 0.1 1.2 0.1 27.2 0.2

Colorado ................ 5,049,071 42.5 0.4 46.2 0.4 1.4 0.1 9.8 0.3

Connecticut .............. 3,577,073 55.1 0.5 27.7 0.5 3.6 0.2 13.6 0.4

Delaware ................ 899,769 45.3 1.0 45.2 1.1 1.6 0.3 8.0 0.4

District of Columbia ........ 604,453 37.3 0.9 47.4 1.1 1.8 0.3 13.5 0.7

Florida .................. 18,843,326 35.2 0.2 42.3 0.2 3.1 0.1 19.4 0.2

Georgia ................. 9,712,587 55.2 0.3 33.9 0.3 1.2 0.1 9.7 0.2

Hawaii .................. 1,363,621 55.0 1.0 23.9 0.5 2.9 0.3 18.2 1.0

Idaho ................... 1,571,450 46.9 0.8 46.6 0.7 1.0 0.1 5.5 0.3

Illinois ................... 12,843,166 67.1 0.3 18.2 0.2 1.0 0.1 13.7 0.2

Indiana .................. 6,490,621 68.3 0.4 26.5 0.4 0.6 0.1 4.6 0.1

Iowa .................... 3,049,883 71.7 0.4 23.3 0.4 0.5 0.1 4.6 0.2

Kansas .................. 2,859,169 58.2 0.6 34.4 0.6 0.8 0.1 6.5 0.3

Kentucky ................ 4,346,266 70.3 0.5 25.9 0.4 0.6 0.1 3.2 0.2

Louisiana ................ 4,544,228 78.8 0.4 16.8 0.4 0.6 0.1 3.8 0.1

Maine ................... 1,327,567 64.0 0.7 31.6 0.6 1.0 0.1 3.4 0.2

Maryland ................ 5,785,982 47.6 0.4 37.2 0.4 1.3 0.1 13.9 0.3

Massachusetts ............ 6,557,254 63.1 0.4 19.5 0.3 2.4 0.1 15.0 0.3

Michigan ................ 9,877,574 76.6 0.2 16.9 0.2 0.6 0.1 6.0 0.1

Minnesota ............... 5,310,584 68.8 0.3 23.4 0.3 0.6 0.1 7.1 0.2

Mississippi ............... 2,970,036 71.9 0.5 25.6 0.5 0.4 0.1 2.1 0.2

Missouri ................. 5,996,231 65.9 0.4 29.6 0.4 0.6 0.1 3.9 0.2

Montana ................. 990,898 54.1 0.9 43.2 0.9 0.8 0.1 2.0 0.3

Nebraska ................ 1,830,429 65.6 0.6 27.6 0.6 0.7 0.1 6.1 0.3

Nevada ................. 2,704,642 24.3 0.5 55.2 0.5 1.7 0.2 18.8 0.4

New Hampshire ........... 1,316,759 42.7 0.8 51.0 0.8 1.0 0.2 5.3 0.3

New Jersey .............. 8,801,624 52.4 0.3 24.2 0.2 2.4 0.1 21.0 0.2

New Mexico .............. 2,065,932 51.7 0.7 37.3 0.7 1.1 0.1 9.9 0.5

New York ................ 19,392,283 63.6 0.2 11.8 0.1 2.4 0.1 22.2 0.2

North Carolina ............ 9,561,558 58.5 0.4 33.0 0.4 1.0 0.1 7.5 0.2

North Dakota ............. 674,499 68.6 0.9 28.3 0.9 0.6 0.1 2.5 0.3

Ohio .................... 11,536,182 75.1 0.2 20.1 0.2 0.7 0.1 4.1 0.1

Oklahoma ............... 3,761,702 60.8 0.5 32.8 0.5 0.9 0.1 5.5 0.2

Oregon .................. 3,838,957 45.5 0.4 43.7 0.4 1.0 0.1 9.8 0.3

Pennsylvania ............. 12,709,630 74.0 0.2 18.7 0.2 1.5 0.1 5.8 0.1

Rhode Island ............. 1,052,886 59.3 0.9 25.9 0.9 2.1 0.4 12.8 0.5

South Carolina ............ 4,636,312 58.6 0.4 35.6 0.4 1.1 0.1 4.7 0.2

South Dakota ............. 816,463 65.1 0.8 31.5 0.8 0.7 0.1 2.7 0.3

Tennessee ............... 6,356,897 61.0 0.4 33.6 0.4 0.8 0.1 4.5 0.2

Texas ................... 25,257,114 60.5 0.2 21.9 0.2 1.2 0.1 16.4 0.2

Utah .................... 2,776,469 62.3 0.5 28.6 0.4 1.1 0.1 8.0 0.3

Vermont ................. 625,960 51.1 1.1 43.5 1.1 1.0 0.2 4.4 0.4

Virginia .................. 8,024,617 49.9 0.3 37.1 0.3 1.7 0.1 11.4 0.2

Washington .............. 6,744,496 46.9 0.3 38.3 0.4 1.7 0.1 13.1 0.2

West Virginia ............. 1,853,973 71.1 0.7 27.3 0.6 0.4 0.1 1.2 0.1

Wisconsin ............... 5,691,047 72.1 0.3 22.7 0.3 0.7 0.1 4.5 0.1

Wyoming ................ 564,460 41.5 1.3 54.9 1.2 0.8 0.2 2.8 0.4

Puerto Rico2 ............. 3,722,133 91.8 0.3 5.1 0.2 0.3 0.1 2.8 0.2

1

 Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. A margin of error is a measure of an estimate’s variability. The larger the margin of error 

in relation to the size of the estimate, the less reliable the estimate. When added to and subtracted from the estimate, the margin of error forms the 90 percent 

confidence interval. 2

 The first three column headings for the Puerto Rico line differ from the rest of the table. From left to right, the three columns are: born in Puerto Rico, born in 

the United States, born in U.S. Island areas, or born abroad to U.S. parent(s). 

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey, 2010 Puerto Rico Community Survey.
U.S. Census Bureau 3

significant geographic variation. At current state, respectively. In four The propensity to migrate also 

more than 70 percent, the Midwest states, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, varied with age. While nearly 90 

had the highest percentage of its and Nevada, and in the District of percent of those under 5 years old 

current population born in their Columbia, less than 40 percent of were born in their current state of 

current state, indicating relatively residents were born in that state or residence, the proportion decreases 

lower lifetime mobility. The West district.3 With less than one quar- rapidly as age increases. Slightly 

was at the other end of the scale ter of its 2010 population born in more than one half of the populawith less than half of its popula- that state, Nevada had the lowest tion between 25 and 44 were born 

tion born in that region. The West percentage in the country. The map in their current state of residence. 

led in the proportion of the popu- that accompanies this report shows After reaching 64, an age around 

lation that was foreign born, just the geographic distribution of life- which many people would retire, 

under 20 percent, followed by the time mobility in the United States, the percentage had a brief dip 

Northeast at 15.6 percent. indicated by the percentage of a among those who were 65 to 74. It 

state’s residents born in that state. then increased and among those 75 The state with the highest per- Overall, the western region of the and older, almost 50 percent were centage of current residents born country had higher mobility than currently living in their state of in-state is Louisiana, with 78.8 the eastern portion, although levels birth. The regional variation is also percent of current residents born in many states on the east coast larger among those who are older. there. It was followed by three are also high (Table 1 and map). While the percentage of those born states in the great lakes region: in their current state of residence Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, 3 The percent born in the state of resiwith 76.6, 75.1, and 74.0 per- dence for Arizona and District of Columbia was close to 90 percent in all four 

are not statistically different from one regions among those 5 years and cent of residents born in their another.

Percent Born in State of Residence by State: 2010 

Percent 

24.3 to 44.5

45.0 to 59.9

60.0 to 69.9

70.0 to 91.8

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey,

2010 Puerto Rico Community Survey.

MT

AK

NM

OR MN

KS

SD

ND

MO

WA

FL

IL IN

WI NY

PA

MI

OH

IA

ME

MA 

CT 

AZ

NV

TX

CA CO

WY

UT

ID

NE

OK

GA

AR

AL

NC

MS

LA

TN

KY

VA

SC

WV

RI 

DE 

MD 

NJ 

HI

VT NH

PR

DC 
4 U.S. Census Bureau

under, by age 75 and over, regional 

variation became considerably 

larger. Only one quarter of people 

75 and older lived in their state of 

birth in the West and less than half 

in the South, compared with 60 

percent in the Northeast and 65 

percent in the Midwest (Table 2).

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about migration in the United States, go to the 

U.S. Census Bureau Web site on 

Migration <www.census.gov/hhes

/migration/index.html> or contact 

the Journey to Work and Migration 

Statistics Branch of the Census 

Bureau at 301-763-2454 or e-mail 

<ping.ren@census.gov>.

SOURCE AND ACCURACY

Data presented in this report are based on state households selected 

to participate in the ACS in 2010. The resulting estimates are representative of the entire population. All comparisons presented in this 

report have taken sampling error into account and are significant 

at the 90 percent confidence level unless otherwise noted. Due to 

rounding, some details may not sum to totals. For information on 

sampling and estimation methods, confidentiality, and sampling and 

nonsampling errors, please see the “2010 ACS Accuracy of the Data” 

document located at <www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads

/data_documentation/Accuracy/ACS_Accuracy_of_Data_2010.pdf>.

Table 2. 

Percent Born in State of Residence by Age and Region: 2010

(For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see www.census.gov/acs/www)

Age group

United States Northeast Midwest South West

Born in state of 

residence

Born in state of 

residence

Born in state of 

residence

Born in state of 

residence

Born in state of 

residence

Percent

Margin of 

error (±)1 Percent

Margin of 

error (±)1 Percent

Margin of 

error (±)1 Percent

Margin of 

error (±)1 Percent

Margin of 

error (±)1

Under 5. . . . . . . . . . . . 89.3 0.1 89.8 0.3 89.9 0.2 88.2 0.2 90.1 0.3

5 to 17 years. . . . . . . . 78.3 0.1 80.6 0.3 82.2 0.2 75.1 0.2 78.0 0.3

18 to 24 years. . . . . . . 63.7 0.2 65.2 0.4 71.1 0.3 60.1 0.3 61.4 0.3

25 to 44 years. . . . . . . 50.5 0.1 54.3 0.2 65.0 0.2 47.3 0.2 40.2 0.2

45 to 54 years. . . . . . . 50.1 0.1 56.5 0.2 66.2 0.2 46.2 0.2 35.3 0.3

55 to 64 years. . . . . . . 49.7 0.1 56.5 0.3 64.9 0.2 47.9 0.2 32.1 0.2

65 to 74 years. . . . . . . 47.2 0.1 55.9 0.3 62.6 0.3 46.3 0.2 26.1 0.3

75 years and over. . . . 49.4 0.1 60.3 0.3 65.0 0.3 47.4 0.3 25.0 0.3

1

 Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. A margin of error is a measure of an estimate’s variability. The larger the margin of error 

in relation to the size of the estimate, the less reliable the estimate. When added to and subtracted from the estimate, the margin of error forms the 90 percent 

confidence interval.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey.