Population trends do affect housing, but they are a lagging indicator.

Approximately 75% of our communities have a population of less than 10,000 people.

If you care just about positive cash flow (and you don't care about population growth, macroeconomics, or appreciation), definitely go with Cleveland.

.✅ Fast-Growing Population – With projections estimating the population to hit 1 million by 2050, housing and commercial space demand is skyrocketing.✅ Beaver Lake: A Hidden Gem – Spanning 28,000 acres, Beaver Lake offers crystal-clear water and zero crowding, unlike many other lakes in the region.

DC metro area has a population of 6 million.

It is a key signal of a city’s population and economic growth.

@Alev G. the litmus test I use in exploring an area is incomes and population density.If the population density is too low and not somewhat close to an employment center it’s not going to be a Green light for me.  

With that being said, I would target areas that have shown stable price appreciation in the past, have demonstrated population growth in recent years, and have a diverse economy with plenty of job opportunity.

After reviewing the standard numbers on population, jobs, income per capital, crime rate, appreciation potential, etc., I was not overly impressed but decided to move forward despite the numbers due to the amount of rent/sqft in comparison to the cost/sqft.

A lot of clients I work with in NY invest here because it's one of the hottest real estate markets in the US and has some of the best macroeconomics - population growth, job growth, and companies moving and developing here.