Living off campus is a great idea! I did and loved it. But there’s a reason people would want to be on campus instead of a house in Vestal. You could find a room for $350 in a house in Vestal, but you’re missing out on so much. Or maybe you’re not. It all depends on what your priorities are. It’s a personal preference. But
This is where you lose me. Since when do dorm prices correlate to the local land? Do you have evidence or other examples of this being the case? The prices of dorms at Penn were waaay more expensive than a typical house in West Philly.