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 | 171,941 | 179,701 | 181,165 | 180,133 | 180,387 |
| Change Since 2000 | 7,760 | 9,224 | 8,192 | 8,446 | |
| Pct. Change Since 2000 | 4.5% | 5.4% | 4.8% | 4.9% | |
| Components of Population Change 2023 to 2024 | ||
| Number | ||
| Net Domestic Migration | 53 | |
| International Migration | 415 | |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | -28 | |
| Births | 2,116 | |
| Deaths | 2,144 | |
| Population Estimates by Age in 2023 | ||
| Number | Pct. Dist | |
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 10,379 | 5.8% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 28,439 | 15.8% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 17,270 | 9.6% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 47,629 | 26.5% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 42,433 | 23.6% |
| Older (65 plus) | 33,660 | 18.7% |
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin in 2023 | ||
| Number | Pct. Dist | |
| American Ind. or Alaskan Native Alone | 583 | 0.3% |
| Asian Alone | 2,478 | 1.4% |
| Black Alone | 18,917 | 10.5% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 651 | 0.4% |
| White Alone | 151,349 | 84.1% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 5,832 | 3.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | ||
| Non-Hispanic or Latino | 172,800 | 96.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7,010 | 3.9% |
| Households in 2023 | ||
| Number | Pct. Dist | |
| Total Households | 77,198 | 100.0% |
| Family Households | 46,149 | 59.8% |
| Married with Children | 11,418 | 14.8% |
| Married without Children | 20,671 | 26.8% |
| Single Parents | 7,655 | 9.9% |
| Other | 6,405 | 8.3% |
| Non-family Households | 31,049 | 40.2% |
| Living Alone | 25,528 | 33.1% |
| Average Household Size | 2.33 | |
| Average Family Household Size | 3.90 | |
| Population Counts by Decade | |||
| Population | Numerical Chg. | Pct. Chg. | |
| 1950 | 160,422 | NA | NA |
| 1960 | 165,794 | 5,372 | 3.3% |
| 1970 | 168,772 | 2,978 | 1.8% |
| 1980 | 167,515 | -1,257 | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 165,058 | -2,457 | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 171,941 | 6,883 | 4.2% |
| 2010 | 179,701 | 7,760 | 4.5% |
| 2020 | 180,133 | 432 | 0.2% |
| Population Projections | |||||
| 2020 | 2025 | 2030 | 2035 | 2040 | |
| Population Projections | 180,331 | 179,620 | 179,689 | 178,654 | 176,696 |
| Change Since 2020 | -711 | -642 | -1,677 | -3,635 | |
| Pct. Change Since 2020 | -0.4% | -0.4% | -0.9% | -2.0% | |