PHOENIX — So what are the chances that your neighbors are not from Arizona?
Well, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, better than 50-50.
Just 39.1% of the people living here in 2024 — the most recent figures available — actually were born in the 48th state, newly released data shows.
In fact, it's one of the lowest rates of native-born populations in the country. Even rapidly growing states like Texas and California have higher ratios of homegrown, at 57.1% and 56.3%, respectively.
So where are folks coming from?
Arizona has one of the lowest rates of native-born populations in the country, new Census Bureau figures show.
Of the nearly 7.6 million people estimated to live in Arizona, the Census Bureau figures that close to one out of every seven was born in another country.
But Arizona is far from having the largest share. Florida and New Jersey both are listed as having a quarter of their populations born abroad.
As far as internal migration here, California leads the list with an estimated 786,000 former West Coast residents deciding to decamp to Arizona. That's one out of every 10 residents.
The Census Bureau, in compiling the statistics, does not determine why people move from where they were born to where they live now. But various reports, including one by StorageCafe, say Californians apparently have found appeal with a lower cost of living — and, in particular, fewer homes and cheaper rents.
Still, it isn't entirely a one-way street. There are more than 193,000 Arizona natives now living in California.
In the second slot for transplants — and much farther down the list — there are about 277,000 Arizonans who were born in Illinois.
A look at the weather off the Great Lakes might provide some clue to the decision of some of their residents to seek warmer climes.
Of the nearly 7.6 million people estimated to live in Arizona, the Census Bureau figures that close to one out of every seven were born in another country.
Yet, wind and snowstorms notwithstanding, the Census Bureau finds that, snow and wind notwithstanding, there are residents of Illinois who prefer to stay where they are, thank you. Close to two-thirds of the state's population was born there.
And here's something to contemplate: Even with the weather, there are more than 27,000 people who were born in Arizona who are now living in Illinois.
Third in terms of origins for current Arizona are New Yorkers, with nearly 184,000 hailing from the Empire State.
But fourth are the more than 174,000 Arizonans who were born in the Lone Star state of Texas.
Other big contributors to Arizona's growth are natives of Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Washington.
At the other end of the spectrum of the number of Arizona transplants are Delaware, Rhode Island and Vermont.
