First let me congratulate you because you have my 2 dreams first one firefighter and 2 Real Estate Investing
look for what I learn on books and interviews to investors and so on
it always says that look for the numbers but what I fund interesting is that maybe not always the numbers speak for then self because I was searching for numbers in CT and I was surprised with what I fund. talking about just numbers with statistic facts if you see them you never will invest on real Estate in CT and I'll explain why: CT is within the states with the highest Real Estate taxes, Low or non economical growth meaning no new jobs create, high Crime rate and so on but I live in Bridgeport CT and I been trying to get a good property and is hard because they are selling right away so saying that I would said that check your numbers and try to feel them too like get in touch with investor in the area you want invest talk to local property management like craig bellot and if you can go there and feel the area( if you see a bunch of people seating on the store corner or in the front porch at 10 Am Monday it mean a lot) and the most important take action on what you decide
my best wishes for you man and keep hustle
and if that can help here is a list of the unemployment rate by cities
https://www1.ctdol.state.ct.us/lmi/LAUS/lmi123.asp