I invest in an area with less then 10k population. 

Some of the metrics that I find valuable to understand are:- Population Total- Population Age- Home Values- Household Incomes- Rental Vacancy Rate- Homeowner Vacancy Rate- Poverty Rate- Educational Attainment Rate (High School/GED & Bachelors)- Number of Housing Unit- Rent to Income Ratio- Rent to Price Ratio- Population on SNAPS (supplemental nutrition assistance program) percentage- Property Tax Rate- Median Age of Buildings- Number of Structures by Units (SFR, Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex, etc...)- Median Rents by Number of Bedrooms- Unemployment Rate- Employment Sectors Percentages- Number of Building Permits Issued- Foreclosure Rate- School Ratings- Crime StatisticsWhen you consider all the variables listed above you will be better able to judge a locations tenant quality.Also take into consideration the direction in which each of these market indicators are trending.

It is a geographically strapped area south of San Jose/Silicon Valley, with very limited and poor housing supply coupled with an unpopular local planning agency that is not customer service oriented because of restrictions on population density and water resources, etc.At this point in our lives, we cannot just pick up and move our jobs to another state. 

We have been looking at approximately 20 metro areas with solid job and population growth. 

We have been looking at approximately 20 metro areas with solid job and population growth.

Low unemployment rate and steady population growth.

Toronto continues to add 125,000 population a year.

It will appear, double click it and it will populate the comment box with their name in blue.

I have family in the area and the market over there is not developing but has a consistent population and demand for rentals.  

ID is a much different mindset for the general population.