@DeeDeeR4 - Just a thought from a parent that is very familiar with both schools - I am going to take money and even major out of my thoughts, as there are more experienced posters that have addressed those issues.
What you love about USC socially is pretty much the opposite of what you will find at NYU. Have you visited either school recently - have you been to NYC as a young adult? NYU has no defined campus, not school spirit around sports and sits right in a very active, loud, urban and engaging area of NYC. USC’s campus looks straight out of a movie set, Trojan spirit is high and it is self contained. Access to LA - but not in LA.
Happiness at a school is important for success - let me repeat that - Happiness at school is important for success.
The feeling I get from your post is that you are just ready to have a decision and be done - that is understandable. BUT you want it to be the right place for you and I don’t read that at all in your post about NYU. You were deferred at a highly competitive school, you are a qualified student and you already have an excellent option. Are you ready to give that all up and apply ED2 to NYU if you are accepted ?
I lied - one money thought: both schools are in areas that are quite expensive. Do you/will you have weekend $ or will you be on a strict budget for expenses ? I have one child at a rural school and one at a urban school - the rural student rarely touches her spending $ and will end up with a positive balance at the end of the school year - the more urban student empties her bank account monthly and uses her own savings for additional expenses that occur outside of campus.