A region's economy thrives or dives because of the people who choose to live there. That choice may occur by being born there and desiring to stay, or a more deliberate one of choosing to relocate from somewhere else. Monitoring change in the size and movement of population is an important barometer of well-being.
| Population Over Time | |||||
| 2000 | 2010 | 2017 | 2020 | 2023 | |
| Total Population | 265,567 | 266,914 | 270,219 | 272,916 | 272,848 |
| Change Since 2000 | 1,347 | 4,652 | 7,349 | 7,281 | |
| Pct. Change Since 2000 | 0.5% | 1.8% | 2.8% | 2.7% | |
| Components of Population Change 2022 to 2023 | ||
| Number | ||
| Net Domestic Migration | -671 | |
| International Migration | 763 | |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | 460 | |
| Births | 3,286 | |
| Deaths | 2,826 | |
| Population Estimates by Age in 2022 | ||
| Number | Pct. Dist | |
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 16,616 | 6.1% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 45,893 | 16.9% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 31,688 | 11.6% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 69,533 | 25.5% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 62,408 | 22.9% |
| Older (65 plus) | 46,096 | 16.9% |
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin in 2022 | ||
| Number | Pct. Dist | |
| American Ind. or Alaskan Native Alone | 1,563 | 0.6% |
| Asian Alone | 7,688 | 2.8% |
| Black Alone | 37,726 | 13.9% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 234 | 0.1% |
| White Alone | 215,473 | 79.1% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 9,550 | 3.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | ||
| Non-Hispanic or Latino | 244,491 | 89.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 27,743 | 10.2% |
| Households in 2022 | ||
| Number | Pct. Dist | |
| Total Households | 107,466 | 100.0% |
| Family Households | 63,910 | 59.5% |
| Married with Children | 17,380 | 16.2% |
| Married without Children | 28,273 | 26.3% |
| Single Parents | 10,406 | 9.7% |
| Other | 7,851 | 7.3% |
| Non-family Households | 43,556 | 40.5% |
| Living Alone | 36,554 | 34.0% |
| Average Household Size | 2.53 | |
| Average Family Household Size | 4.26 | |
| Population Counts by Decade | |||
| Population | Numerical Chg. | Pct. Chg. | |
| 1950 | 205,058 | NA | NA |
| 1960 | 238,614 | 33,556 | 16.4% |
| 1970 | 244,827 | 6,213 | 2.6% |
| 1980 | 241,617 | -3,210 | -1.3% |
| 1990 | 247,052 | 5,435 | 2.2% |
| 2000 | 265,567 | 18,515 | 7.5% |
| 2010 | 266,914 | 1,347 | 0.5% |
| 2020 | 272,916 | 6,002 | 2.2% |
| Population Projections | |||||
| 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2025 | 2030 | |
| Population Projections | 266,931 | 268,134 | 269,113 | 270,839 | 271,912 |
| Change Since 2010 | 1,203 | 2,182 | 3,908 | 4,981 | |
| Pct. Change Since 2010 | 0.5% | 0.8% | 1.5% | 1.9% | |