Why isn't it weird? To me it's very weird. Why do we think a slightly better job opportunity will lead us to greater happiness than focusing on our personal relationships?
Friends are like health. You know they're great but you don't realize how great until you're without them. And it's a shockingly easy lesson to find yourself "learning" repeatedly.
I think people know it. They just make a calculated decision to move to the suburb with the best schools (i.e. most expensive they can afford) for the benefit of the kids.
Same with leaving a small town and going to a more expensive city with higher and more income earning opportunities.