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 | 2018 | 2020 | 2024 | |
| Total Population | 484,582 | 496,112 | 484,918 | 498,695 | 502,955 |
| Change Since 2000 | 11,530 | 336 | 14,113 | 18,373 | |
| Pct. Change Since 2000 | 2.4% | 0.1% | 2.9% | 3.8% | |
| Components of Population Change 2023 to 2024 | ||
| Number | ||
| Net Domestic Migration | 1,130 | |
| International Migration | 977 | |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | 278 | |
| Births | 5,463 | |
| Deaths | 5,185 | |
| Population Estimates by Age in 2023 | ||
| Number | Pct. Dist | |
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 28,618 | 5.7% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 86,610 | 17.3% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 41,817 | 8.4% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 126,142 | 25.2% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 125,755 | 25.1% |
| Older (65 plus) | 91,656 | 18.3% |
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin in 2023 | ||
| Number | Pct. Dist | |
| American Ind. or Alaskan Native Alone | 2,797 | 0.6% |
| Asian Alone | 8,868 | 1.8% |
| Black Alone | 123,091 | 24.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 373 | 0.1% |
| White Alone | 354,217 | 70.8% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 11,252 | 2.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | ||
| Non-Hispanic or Latino | 394,141 | 78.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 106,457 | 21.3% |
| Households in 2023 | ||
| Number | Pct. Dist | |
| Total Households | 193,474 | 100.0% |
| Family Households | 125,900 | 65.1% |
| Married with Children | 30,592 | 15.8% |
| Married without Children | 52,629 | 27.2% |
| Single Parents | 22,402 | 11.6% |
| Other | 20,277 | 10.5% |
| Non-family Households | 67,574 | 34.9% |
| Living Alone | 57,461 | 29.7% |
| Average Household Size | 2.59 | |
| Average Family Household Size | 3.98 | |
| Population Counts by Decade | |||
| Population | Numerical Chg. | Pct. Chg. | |
| 1950 | 368,152 | NA | NA |
| 1960 | 513,269 | 145,117 | 39.4% |
| 1970 | 546,253 | 32,984 | 6.4% |
| 1980 | 522,917 | -23,336 | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 475,594 | -47,323 | -9.0% |
| 2000 | 484,582 | 8,988 | 1.9% |
| 2010 | 496,112 | 11,530 | 2.4% |
| 2020 | 498,695 | 2,583 | 0.5% |
| Population Projections | |||||
| 2020 | 2025 | 2030 | 2035 | 2040 | |
| Population Projections | 498,932 | 502,074 | 504,125 | 504,206 | 501,977 |
| Change Since 2020 | 3,142 | 5,193 | 5,274 | 3,045 | |
| Pct. Change Since 2020 | 0.6% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 0.6% | |