Do we focus on flipping, (currently we have actually been trying to do this, but we physically can't find enough contractors in our smaller market <100K population to do that much work).

There are a lot of markets with solid job markets, strong populations, solid rent growth, but when you are talking ONE property, unless you are considering highly rural areas, it likely doesn't matter.  

I think smaller markets say sub 50k population would have a larger impact from one big move from a manufacturing facility or something like a Amazon processing center.

Columbus also has great macroeconomics - lots of job growth, population growth, and major employers developing here.

Is this a highly populated area, are there lots of jobs, are people moving to the area or is the population declining?

Strong job growth, low unemployment rate, and strong population growth.

You may also want to check the Columbus OH market - great macroeconomics with lots of job and population growth along with major companies developing here that drive strong rental demand. 

My core investing philosophy is pretty simple, and has done very well across almost two decades and numerous cities:1) Invest in cities with population (and job) growth2) Invest in parts of the city where household income is near the median (or slightly below)3) Invest in properties that provide cash flow from day 1 Thank you for sharing that. 

There is strong rental demand because of growing population, job market, and the booming tech scene. 

@Mitchell Rosenberg  - I think the overall thinking is that most prefer areas that have a growing population with a growing/stable economy base that is diversified.