MT. JACKSON, Va. - A popular new neighborhood for young couples and families is somewhere you might not expect. Instead of living in the city, or even nearby suburbs, more 30- and 40-somethings are relocating to rural America.

When Bill and Tara Haley added each new bundle of joy to their family, city life became a little less joyful.

"To take them sledding would mean to put all the snow suits on and fight with the car seats and drive somewhere," Bill said, "as opposed to out here. They can put their own coat on and run out in the backyard."

The Haleys have three kids, and another on the way. They're living the country life as the new owners of a 17-acre farm in Shenandoah County.

"We always imagined that we'd live and die in the inner city, so we were surprised to be led to this move," Bill said.

But the Haleys are now part of a growing trend, according to real estate agent Cindy Dellinger.

"The client base is running from the young family, young professionals who are wanting to create a new lifestyle in rural America," she said.

Dellinger says half of her clients are trading city life for greener pastures. The company she works with, United Country Real Estate, is one of the country's biggest specializing in rural properties. Dellinger says business is up eleven percent over this time last year.

One reason for the increase is technology. Residents can telecommute, while enjoying their lifestyle closer to nature. Even the United Country Web site allows clients to shop by categories like recreation, hunting or horseback riding.

"All of this is within a 20-25 mile radius of this particular location, which means you're only in your car less than 30 minutes," Dellinger said.

Architect Gerald Forsburg, principal designer at Shenandoah Designs, believes his younger clients are attracted to the same quality of life that drew him to move his family from Capitol Hill to Mount Jackson.

"The only traffic jams we have out here is maybe twice a year, when one of the farm tractors goes down main street and holds up 6 cars," Forsburg said.

United Country also says it began noticing people shift away from cities even before the recession began. But because city living can be so much more expensive, the weak economy has accelerated the move for some people.

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