| Metropolitan Area Residents |
| 1980: | 256,881 |
| 1990: | 295,851 |
| 2000: | 464,840 |
| Percent change, 1990–2000: | 45.4% |
| U.S. rank in 1980: | Not reported |
| U.S. rank in 1990: | Not reported |
| U.S. rank in 2000: | 97th |
| City Residents |
| 1980: | 102,451 |
| 1990: | 125,685 |
| 2000: | 185,787 |
| 2003 estimate: | 190,117 |
| Percent change, 1990–2000: | 37.5% |
| U.S. rank in 1980: | 162nd |
| U.S. rank in 1990: | 145th (State rank: 1st) |
| U.S. rank in 2000: | 105th (State rank: 1st) |
| Density: | 2,913.1 people per square mile (2000) |
| Racial and ethnic characteristics | (2000) |
| White | 171,204 |
| Black or African American | 1,437 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1,300 |
| Asian | 3,870 |
| Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander | 302 |
| Hispanic origin (may be of any race) | 8,410 Other: 3,241 |
| Percent of residents born in state: | 43.2% (2000) |
| Age characteristics | (2000) |
| Population under 5 years old | 13,116 |
| Population 5 to 9 years old | 12,933 |
| Population 10 to 14 years old | 13,029 |
| Population 15 to 19 years old | 13,860 |
| Population 20 to 24 years old | 15,920 |
| Population 25 to 34 years old | 30,194 |
| Population 35 to 44 years old | 29,837 |
| Population 45 to 54 years old | 25,321 |
| Population 55 to 59 years old | 7,618 |
| Population 60 to 64 years old | 5,347 |
| Population 65 to 74 years old | 8,830 |
| Population 75 to 84 years old | 7,085 |
| Population 85 years and over | 2,697 |
| Median age | 32.8 years |
| Births | (2002, Ada County) |
| Total number | 4,939 |
| Deaths | (2002, Ada County) |
| Total number | 1,881 (of which 32 were infants under the age of 1 year) |
| Money income | (1999) |
| Per capita income | $22,696 |
| Median household income | $42,432 |
| Total households | 74,609 |
| Number of households with income of . . . | |
| less than $10,000 | 4,934 |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 4,072 |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 10,405 |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 10,351 |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 13,439 |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 15,537 |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 7,759 |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 5,313 |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 1,328 |
| $200,000 or more | 1,471 |
| Percent of families below poverty level: | 5.9% (41.8% of which were female householder families with related children under 5) |
| 2002 FBI Crime Index Total: | 8,748 |