I understand how you are feeling. Here a re few suggestions that have not been listed. Have a themed open house for example one of our communities had an open house based on Movie Stars...Some phrases we had on bootlegs and our marketting material are "Live Like A Star at Deer Meadows Apartments", "Now Showing 2x2 starting at $625", "Star Quality Community", " Now Showing Deer Meadow Apartments Open House". I even had flyers made up in the shape of a star and tag ATM's., Public Bathrooms, Movie Theater Restrooms, Bussiness etc. I live Twenty minutes in a small suburb outside the city so I would markett for them over on my side of town. There open house was successful they had 8 leases that day. They have also have been busy non-stop sense the open house. Now I know they are in Jacksonville and the population is larger than yours but the community is small and in an odd location for some. But it really not has a nice suburb feel just no one knows its there.
If you are close to the Beach go to a dollar store and get a bunch of beach toys,sunblock, flip flops, water bottles, tag your flyers to them with a cute saying and had them out to the patrons of the beach. Everyone from everywhere go to the beach so you never know who will respond. You may fined some one who is looking for the quite life of a small town but dose not want to be to far from the city.
Also check out your walkability of your community. Include in an information packet that you hand to ryour prospect a map showing how close you are to everything.
I'm alos for the moment trying a theme for all our community called "I LOVE THIS..." Print out some 5x7 or 8x10 color pictures ( go to Toni Blake Facebook Page or Faboulus Leasing Ideas) of the heart that says "I LOVE THIS..." for your residents. Have a contest with the residents by asking them to take a picture of there favorite theing in your community or around the Town they love with your heart picture. They submit the picture in a digital format, if they dont have acess to that then a print. Who ever has the best picture will get a gift certificate to where ever ( if money tight seek help from vendors). Then make a digital love story book for you on