| Metropolitan Area Residents (MSA) |
| 1980: | 1,243,000 |
| 1990: | 1,189,340 |
| 2000: | 1,170,111 |
| Percent change, 1990-2000: | -1.6% |
| U.S. rank in 1990: | 33rd |
| U.S. rank in 2000: | 42nd |
| City Residents |
| 1980: | 357,870 |
| 1990: | 328,175 |
| 2000: | 292,648 |
| 2004 estimate: | 282,864 |
| Percent change, 1990-2000: | -10.8% |
| U.S. rank in 1980: | 39th |
| U.S. rank in 1990: | 50th (State rank: 2nd) |
| U.S. rank in 2000: | 69th (State rank: 2nd) |
| Density: | 7,205.8 people per square mile (2000) |
| Racial and ethnic characteristics | (2000) |
| White | 159,300 |
| Black or African American | 108,951 |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 2,250 |
| Asian | 4,093 |
| Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander | 120 |
| Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race) | 22,076 |
| Other | 10,755 |
| Percent of residents born in state: | 77.4% (2000) |
| Age characteristics | (2000) |
| Population under 5 years old | 20,768 |
| Population 5 to 9 years old | 22,773 |
| Population 10 to 14 years old | 21,466 |
| Population 15 to 19 years old | 20,948 |
| Population 20 to 24 years old | 24,031 |
| Population 25 to 34 years old | 42,150 |
| Population 35 to 44 years old | 43,741 |
| Population 45 to 54 years old | 35,097 |
| Population 55 to 59 years old | 11,976 |
| Population 60 to 64 years old | 10,371 |
| Population 65 to 74 years old | 19,803 |
| Population 75 to 84 years old | 14,516 |
| Population 85 years and over | 5,008 |
| Median age | 33.6 |
| Births | (2002, Erie County) |
| Total number | 10,667 |
| Deaths | (2002, Erie County) |
| Total number | 10,010 (of which, 87 were infants under the age of 1 year) |
| Money income | (1999) |
| Per capita income | $14,991 |
| Median household income | $24,536 |
| Total households | 122,720 |
| Number of households with income of . . . | |
| less than $10,000 | 26,041 |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 13,848 |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 22,274 |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 17,005 |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 17,022 |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 15,090 |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 6,319 |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 3,314 |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 729 |
| $200,000 or more | 1,030 |
| Percent of families below poverty level: | 23% (35% of which were female householder families with children under 5 years) |
| 2002 FBI Crime Index Total: | 19,017 |