There are two large towns within a 10 minute drive down both sides of the highway with a diverse range of employment opportunities from high schools to hospitals, industrial jobs, shopping centers, etc.

Is this an area with plenty of diversity and healthy/growing small businesses, or is there ONE major employer that basically controls the destiny of the community?

It would help if you mention your price range, btw.Of the towns you mention as goals, Lexington probably has the greatest diversity of housing stock and prices.

@Vincent Celeste I think it will be both diverse and profuse in its effects, right?

As the Community Engagement Specialist for BiggerPockets, I love to see how diverse real estate can be.

Mableton specifically has a convenient location (closer to the Midtown, Downtown, and the Battery than lots of other suburbs), it is also very ethnically diverse with no one ethnic group as the dominant group.

Government assistance, sec 8, higher education financial assistance and associated student housing will offer new opportunities.I grew up in a city which was very diverse in Boston but now I am seeing a call in the suburbs for more affordable housing for "new" residents... yes it was a campaign.

of units across diverse locations, and the 50% rule holds more time than not (where "50%" means 45-55%).The only exception I've seen is in locations where taxes are disproportionate to rental income...Without knowing the two specific locations you're referring to, I can't comment on your specific example...but my gut tells me that some of your assumptions about "identical" houses, tenants and finishes is off.  

There is a diverse inventory and strategy for 2-4 units that can be very successful for the first time buyer. 

@Aaron K. yeah I understand that area is mostly surburban and is not does not have too diverse of an economy.