| Metropolitan Area Residents (NECMA) |
| 1990: | 1,157,585 |
| 2000: | 1,183,110 |
| Percent change, 1990–2000: | 2.2% |
| U.S. rank in 1980: | 35th (CMSA) |
| U.S. rank in 1990: | 35th (NECMA) |
| U.S. rank in 2000: | 41st (NECMA) |
| City Residents |
| 1980: | 136,392 |
| 1990: | 139,739 |
| 2000: | 121,578 |
| 2003 estimate: | 124,387 |
| Percent change, 1990–2000: | -13% |
| U.S. rank in 1980: | 117th |
| U.S. rank in 1990: | 127th |
| U.S. rank in 2000: | 200th (State rank: 2nd) |
| Density: | 7,025.5 people per square mile (2000) |
| Racial and ethnic characteristics | (2000) |
| White | 33,705 |
| Black or African American | 46,264 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 659 |
| Asian | 1,971 |
| Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander | 135 |
| Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race) | 49,260 |
| Other | 32,230 |
| Percent of residents born in state: | 44.3% (2000) |
| Age characteristics | (2000) |
| Population under 5 years old | 10,116 |
| Population 5 to 9 years old | 10,764 |
| Population 10 to 14 years old | 9,959 |
| Population 15 to 19 years old | 10,341 |
| Population 20 to 24 years old | 10,689 |
| Population 25 to 34 years old | 18,801 |
| Population 35 to 44 years old | 17,398 |
| Population 45 to 54 years old | 13,342 |
| Population 55 to 59 years old | 4,723 |
| Population 60 to 64 years old | 3,875 |
| Population 65 to 74 years old | 5,935 |
| Population 75 to 84 years old | 4,015 |
| Population 85 years and over | 1,638 |
| Median age | 29.7 years |
| Births | (2001) |
| Total number | 2,224 |
| Deaths | (2001) |
| Total number | 1,063 (of which, 30 were infants under the age of 1 year) |
| Money income | (1999 |
| Per capita income | $13,428 |
| Median household income | $24,820 |
| Total households | 45,036 |
| Number of households with income of . . . | |
| less than $10,000 | 10,524 |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 4,560 |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 7,549 |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 6,246 |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 6,559 |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 5,567 |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 2,210 |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 1,112 |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 284 |
| $200,000 or more | 425 |
| Percent of families below poverty level: | 28.2% (49.2% of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years) |
| 2002 FBI Crime Index Total: | 10,870 |