Replies here are great, but if you're interested I'd love to buy any experienced investors a beer/coffee and chat. 

happy to help if you need some direction or just want to meet and chat with some local investors, lots of folks responding here are part of local meetups. 

Feel free to reach out in a message and we can chat more!

I sent you a DM on Facebook messenger if you want to chat about it more.

I will suggest you do your research so that you can be making an educated decision.I can chat if you like to get more insights on these cities.I have rentals in Houston, Spring, and Conroe.

I'd be happy to connect and chat about your investment objectives!

I hope you continue to learn from everyone on this platform.

The way I've narrowed it down is by:Gathering data from all 50 states (population growth, median income, crime, price-to-rent, etc.)Filter out states that have rent lawsFilter out blue states (not because of political beliefs but from my understanding they have less rules and regulation and I believe that in the current climate we're in with COVID and all people are going to flock to areas that don't have as much regulation)Highlight states that people retire in more than othersBecause of short-term rental becoming a trending way to invest, filter out states that impose regulation/rules against short-term rentals using platforms like Air BNB, etc.Also, using ZILLOW, I type in my parameters (homes under $125,000, sqft.

I typically focus on Bergen, Hudson, Essex, and Passaic counties and am currently looking in vicinity of some of those towns you mentioned, so feel free to shoot me a message and we can chat.

Please, feel free to reach out anytime if you have other questions or just want to chat!