I think it's worth emphasizing that "living near friends" doesn't require "living in a big city." By moving from Chicago to Milwaukee, I grew my friend group, found more social opportunities, and those social opportunities are less of an economic burden. Still a city, but considerably smaller. Big cities can offer great things, but only if you can afford to live in certain neighborhoods. Smaller cities offer many of the same opportunities but with lower financial barrier to entry, and less physical distance between you and the most lively areas.

Alternavely, you have to be willing to spend a lot of time in those neighborhoods, then go back to your home for the night. But, of course, the atrocious public transit system in most American cities means this is a pipe dream for me.