As boomers migrate down from the cold belt states it keeps fueling growth.

Typically the security deposit, which technically belongs to the tenant but is pledged as security that they will uphold their lease obligations, migrates to the new landlord.  

Phoenix is still a strong market with positive net migration.  

Florida is a promising state for real estate investing for several important reasons, including: 1) Florida receives an outsized portion of domestic migration from within the U.S. 2) Preservation lands restrict the availability of vacant land for future development, decreasing supply while demand continues to rise 3) Florida's population growth rate is more than twice that of the U.S. rate.

Everything else aside, Sacramento is supposed to be one of the best areas to purchase because of the mass genertrification and migration of Bay residents to a more affordable market. 

.- Once I had my narrower list, I dug into census data to look at job and population growth, net migration, diversification of the local economy.

Please don't forget to mention your goal for which you are using the tools.E.x: Looking for an investment property anywhere in the nation and trying to narrow down scope by tracking population migrations and housing starts/absorptions. 

However, you have a wide jobs base, a lot of in-migration for weather and jobs, and a wide base of industry in SA. 

issues like migrating demographic groups can impact negatively on your apt complex as well right?

Ottawa is not a bad city as we have not seen the type of house increases that the major markets are currently experiencing, but the property will still likely break even at best on a cash flow basis.Not sure why you are interested in purchasing here in Canada when most people are retiring and migrating south, you can certainly find cheaper properties that will cash flow nicely in Florida, Georgia, or the Carolinas.