My guess is that what @Sue22 said is exactly right. It isn’t a snob thing that keeps the NE kids in NE. It is a totally normal parent thing. The experienced NE bs parents know a thing or two about a thing or two that us newbies don’t. I was going to say something about how New Englanders needing to be more open-minded and come west – but that’s silly. It is totally legit to require the proximity, especially when there are so many great, familiar schools to choose from.
Having loved some of those great NE schools during our search, kiddo still ended up close enough so that we could drive to him in a pinch. I now appreciate how important that proximity is to me. At the time, it seemed so do-able to have him be across the country. He would be fine wherever he landed, but I wouldn’t fare as well. It is easier to let go, if I can get to him same day. If I were an East Coast person, I totally see the appeal of staying within driving distance and considering only what is familiar, even if that means taking some great schools off the list.