Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory. In accordance with some embodiments, the apparatus has a solid-state non-volatile memory and a processing circuit configured to write data to a selected location of the memory. The data are arranged in the form of multi-bit code words each comprising a user data payload and associated parity data configured to correct one or more bit errors in the user data payload. The processing circuit adjusts at least a selected one of a size of the code words, a size of the user data payloads or a size of the parity data responsive to at least a selected one of an accumulated count of access operations upon the selected location or an error rate associated with the selected location.