Hallie Scharf said formerly the wor...

Hallie Scharf said formerly the word got out 10 years ago that Prescott Ariz, was a great place to retire, there was no turning back.

"In 1994 currency Market magazine rated us the number united place in the nation to relocate, and that's when it got started," she said.

Since then, existing residents have seen housing prices rise and instructs have a hard time getting bands passed -- but at the same time, volunteerism has grown and the town has a more diverse economy and mixture of clan

The story is similar across the rural parts from Medford, Ore., to Charleston,