In less populous areas, you have to rely on things like the county real estate tax collector's website.

As I have no specific affiliation to any town or region, I'm looking for strong macro-economic stats that make the area "interesting", such as income, population growth, vacancy rates etc... 

Smaller towns hold the most appeal for living but more populated areas are where good investments are found so it has to be in a reasonable driving distance from a somewhat larger city. 

As a result, the construction of new homes did not keep pace with population growth.

Here in Lubbock TX, we've continued to see an increase in population.

You will probably see a higher vacancy rate as this zip and 32114 both have a very transient rental population so they tend not to stay longer than a year. 

I am looking for specific metrics such as population growth, job diversity, unemployment rates along with other statistics.

As I continued my education, joined a second real estate mastermind, and began connecting with team members in more populated markets, I returned to being more active through BRRRRs and now as a General Partner on a syndication myself.

It is a state capital with a large college student population.

And since W-2's make up the overwhelming majority of the population, it is very hard to find another entrepreneurial minded individual to partner up with.