2020 census As of the
2020 census, the county had a population of 268,555. Of the residents, 19.2% were under the age of 18 and 19.2% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 42.3 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.2 males. 70.3% of residents lived in urban areas and 29.7% lived in rural areas. The racial makeup of the county was 75.0% White, 6.0%
Black or African American, 0.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.0%
Asian, 0.1%
Native Hawaiian and
Pacific Islander, 4.9% from some other race, and 9.0% from
two or more races.
Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 11.5% of the population. The population density was . There were 120,994 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 82.2% white, 5.8% black or African American, 4.2% Asian, 0.9% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 3.2% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.5% of the population. Of the 107,057 households, 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.7% were non-families, and 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 40.4 years.
2000 census As of the
census of 2000, there were 259,088 people, 99,835 households, and 67,188 families residing in the county. The
population density was . There were 110,674 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 87.00%
White, 5.29%
Black or
African American, 0.96%
Native American, 1.96%
Asian, 0.06%
Pacific Islander, 2.05% from
other races, and 2.68% from two or more races. 5.11% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race. 13.8% were of
Irish, 12.7%
Italian, 10.8%
English, 7.9%
German, 7.1%
Polish and 6.4%
French ancestry, 90.1% spoke
English, 4.5%
Spanish and 1.1%
French as their first language. There were 99,835 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% were
married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.70% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00. In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males. The
median income for a household in the county was $50,646, and the median income for a family was $59,857. Males had a median income of $41,292 versus $30,525 for females. The
per capita income for the county was $24,678. About 4.50% of families and 6.40% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 7.80% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over.
Demographic breakdown by town Income Data is from the 2010 United States Census and the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.
Race Data is from the 2007-2011
American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates, "Race alone or in combination with one or more other races." ==Communities==