I moved back home this year after three years of renting with friends, mainly because the cost of renting was just getting *too* much. I found it a lot 'cosier' at home (probably just because it's warmer as we can afford to put the heating on), and its nice to have someone to fuss over you when you get in and feel really tired. Its pretty cool having supportive and helpful parents around. Another plus, admittedly quite minor, is having all your stuff in one place. Commuting takes about 50 minutes by train, and I almost always use that time to read some notes and prepare for the day which I probably wouldn't do otherwise.
The downsides that I have experienced are feeling a little left out, just because I'm not always around like I was before and so do miss out on little things.....although I try to go out with my friends at least once a week so this isn't that much of a problem. Also, it does depend on what your parents are like and whether you think you can live together for the year without driving each other mad. My parents are pretty laid back, but can ask a lot of questions about what time I am going in and getting back, how the trains are running, how was my day, did I do anything interesting etc, and I know they're just taking an interest but I do find myself getting irritated and then feeling really bad about it afterwards.
I hope this is of some help to you. Bear in mind that I've moved back home having lived on campus for a few years. I'm not sure whether I would have liked to have lived at home from the outset.......I think its worth living on campus at least for the first year (although here in the UK we go straight to med school after high school so the first year is our first experience of college). Also, I live in a big city where public transport runs pretty efficiently and 24/7 so travelling is not a problem, even late at night. Renting here is really really expensive, so the option of living at home is much more appealing overall.
