Currently living in AUS/NZ with SO. We’re going to be trying for a kid soon, but we have no support network here and no family to help out. I think we should move back to the States, where I’m 100% certain family members would come to help us out for as long as we needed. Given the distance, that just wouldn’t happen if we stayed in AUS/NZ. SO thinks we can just handle it on our own.
We wouldn’t need to find new jobs, as we can just transfer internally. Would taking advantage of your home support network be enough of a reason to back to your home country?
Consider what exactly your support network will offer. The US is a different place than it was 15-20 years ago. Even the simple fact of feeding you/your kids an extra meal can be a drain on your family (due to inflation). If you are starting a family, consider the cost of good healthcare, doctors, etc. On top of that, good education is getting pricey - either because you need to be in a really good school district, or because you are opting for private school.
We raised four kids, the last two are entering college. I can tell you that in any other “developed” nation, I’d also have a million+ dollar retirement account.