| Metropolitan Area Residents |
| 1980: | 280,000 |
| 1990: | 275,572 |
| 2000: | 280,843 |
| Percent change, 1990–2000: | 2% |
| U.S. rank in 1980: | 111th |
| U.S. rank in 1990: | 124th |
| U.S. rank in 2000: | 135th |
| City Residents |
| 1980: | 119,123 |
| 1990: | 108,718 |
| 2000: | 103,717 |
| Percent change, 1990–2000: | -4.2% |
| U.S. rank in 1980: | 130th |
| U.S. rank in 1990: | 175th |
| U.S. rank in 2000: | 247th (State rank: 3rd) |
| Density: | 4,722.9 people per square mile (2000) |
| Racial and ethnic characteristics | (2000) |
| White | 83,550 |
| Black | 14,724 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 232 |
| Asian | 776 |
| Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander | 42 |
| Hispanic (may be of any race) | 4,572 |
| Other | 1,991 |
| Percent of residents born in state: | 79.7% (2000) |
| Age characteristics | (2000) |
| Population under 5 years old | 7,849 |
| Population 5 to 9 years old | 7,844 |
| Population 10 to 14 years old | 6,978 |
| Population 15 to 19 years old | 7.615 |
| Population 20 to 24 years old | 8,418 |
| Population 25 to 34 years old | 14,854 |
| Population 35 to 44 years old | 14,722 |
| Population 45 to 54 years old | 12,109 |
| Population 55 to 59 years old | 4,283 |
| Population 60 to 64 years old | 3,474 |
| Population 65 to 74 years old | 7,395 |
| Population 75 to 84 years old | 6,409 |
| Population 85 years and over | 2,127 |
| Median age | 34.1 years (2000) |
| Births | (2002, Erie County) |
| Total number | 3,372 |
| Deaths | (2003, Erie County) |
| Total number | 2,695 (of which, 23 were infants under the age of 1 year) |
| Money income | (1999) |
| Per capita income | $14,972 |
| Median household income | $28,387 |
| Total households | 40,908 |
| Number of households with income of . . . | |
| less than $10,000 | 2,166 |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 1,638 |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 4,091 |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 3,896 |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 5,136 |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 5,115 |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 1,763 |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 626 |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 153 |
| $200,000 or more | 162 |
| Percent of families below poverty level: | 13.8% (54.4% of which were female householder families with children under the age of 5 years) |
| 2002 FBI Crime Index Total: | 3,560 |
