Famous/rich people leave in Mount Airy because of several reasons. It is a relatively cheep place. The properties are also with much lower prices compared to bigger cities. The town is small, quiet, nice looking, and it gives you a feeling that you leave in a small place (which is not far from the truth). It has a nice location, it is both far away from the big cities and the noise and disruptions from then, but also close enough to not have problem going anywhere you want/need without a problem. Some of the famous people that live in here include: Richard Petty, Julianne Moore, Billy Graham, Max Roach, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Tori Amos...