Also, if you are not in the same town/state, is there more of a tendency for the spouse to avoid paying alimony, i.e. harder to prosecute.

If you aren't divorced you might need to stay where you are until the divorce is final. The one filing for the divorce has to meet the residency requirements for the state they live in.

I thought of moving but I'm somewhat established in my little town. The thought of starting over was more than I wanted to do. I had six court hearings before two different judges and I think that helped me near the end.

The ex worked overseas when I filed for divorce. His temp job overseas had gone on for ten years and into many countries. Luckily for me he came back to the states and now lives three States. In fact he lives in my former home state and I now call SC home.

The first time he cut my alimony by 2/5 and I was struggling. We managed to have him served at work. He was ordered to pay me. He left court and still continued to pay me only part of my alimony. It took longer to get him served the second time and he decided to have surgery on his ankle and couldn't travel for six months. He finally made court almost nine months later on crutches and leg braces. He was again ordered to pay me. This third and last time it took almost a year to find him and he had quit paying me any alimony. He would call to tell me he was working temp jobs with his company... moving ftom state to state with TN still his home location.We couldn't get him served. We tried his original work location in TN. His rental house in TN and finally when I thought I would have to give up we ran his social one more time. He and the wife had bought a house. A very large two story house with a lot of stairs. A week before court we finally got him served complete with a notarized statement from the process server that the ex ran after him telling him he was tresspassing. So he couldn't come to the hearing with the braces and crutches. He agreed to give me the farm I wanted psy the alimony he owed me and all my atty fees to stay out of jail. He no longer has to pay me.

It would have been a lot easier if he had been working here in town. I could have gotten him served a lot easier. As long as the one ordered to pay alimony stays in one place and doesn't move around it would be easier to have him served. When they move away its harder to collect what they owe you.

Ideally, chasing the ex after finalization around town wouldn't be warranted if the ex had [a pot of gold laying around ] opted to a one -time lump sum payout as the condition of the settlement. Legal financial obligations would be forever done.
These days, Skyping from a legal office is an option, but of course, it requires their attendance. No matter where one lives, it's a mission to hunt for these underground moles to get them served. Enforcing payment is very much dependent on their tangible income and personal property...which can be seek through their SS number via liens. The proper legal process to gain access is slow.

PS: Electing to move out of state too early in the process before finalization might require an explanation of your justification. If one doesn't have a contingency of a work source, for example, may change the urgency of need for financial assistance from the court.

I live in a small town. It's amazing that I live within 4 blocks of my ex, and I rarely pass him on the road or see him down town. I have my own friends and activities and he has his. I stayed here because this is where my daughter with the grandchildren lives. I might consider moving if she moved, but it's actually ok.

Mine took off and move to Florida - Sees his kids maybe twice a year. Don't know if your planning on moving that far, but it depends on what you want. Wait till the divorce is over before you do - it will just make things simpler.