HCOL near family or MCOL away from family?

My wife and I both work remotely and live in a VHCOLarea. We have a one-year-old and would like to have more children. Both of our parents live within ten minutes of us and love helping out with our child, which has been a huge benefit.

Although we’re financially managing in our current area, I feel like we could provide a much better life for our children if we moved to a moderately priced area (MCOL). We would also feel more financially secure, especially as our family grows. However, the convenience and support of having family nearby makes it a tough decision.

For those who have moved away from family for a more affordable cost of living, was it worth it?