How to distinguish the "class" of neighborhoods?

[Danny J.]

Hi, I'm brand spanking new and trying to learn as much as I can before investing (my sad amount of money...). I'm saving up best I can but I'm trying to get a feel for how to go about looking at neighborhoods if I'm investing out of state? 

I live in NYC and the prices here are too much for me so I was hoping maybe neighboring states like NJ, PA, etc. I see lots of advice to go for Class B properties and I've read what that means. However is there a way to know which neighboorhoods/areas are a certain class without actually going there and seeing it?

Thank you