Rhyme is 100% right with the commuter school thing. I think that from visiting schools and talking with students everyone forms great bonds so even the "commuter" schools arent going to really make a huge difference. There are a few advantages for what would be considered campus schools over commuter schools and none have anything to do with making bonds. You will spend lots of time at the school no matter where you head but schools where people live in a small section of a city/town and walk to the campus do have a few advantages.
From what I learned the campus schools do have the advantage for people with families or significant others. Its much easier to come and go from the campus, you dont have to take public transportation or drive...a 10 minute walk vs 40 minute car ride is much easier to run back and forth. It also seems that many of the campus schools are the ones that are popular with married or involved students...every school is going to have married people and people bringing significant others but there is something to be said about bringing someone along when you will be living near a lot of other folks who go to school...it gives them an instant network just like it gives you. Obviously this isnt an issue for people who arent moving or for significant others who already know people in the location but if you are moving across the country or around the world for school it can definitely be an advantage for some people.
On your list I would say at the commuter schools would be like Columbia and Chicago a lot of people tend not to live next to the campus because of the neighborhood, some do but a lot live in other areas and will commute to school. At NYU people live away from campus because of cost concerns, its located in one of the most expensive areas of the city.
HBS and MIT are a cross, a lot will live near the campuses but people will live in different neighborhoods but usually it seems that everyone lives reasonably close to campus since Boston is a pretty compact city. So they are pretty much campus schools though people will take the T to get to school.
Duke, Kellogg, Ross, and Tuck I would say are for the most part true campus schools. Most students live within walking distance to the schools and a lot of them live in the same apartment and condo complexes, not in various parts of the city. There are certain buildings that will be known as the places to live if you are students at these schools (well not Tuck really since there arent big complexes in Hanover really but its a tiny town).
I think if you are concerned about not making bonds because you ride a train for 25 minutes each way to get to a school dont worry about that. If you want to live within walking distance of campus, have fellow students as your neighbors, and/or have a significant other who really wants to be involved in the life on campus then you may aim more for "campus" schools. I think what people look for varies and in the end you no matter where you end up you are going to make great friends. You may feel like you fit better at a school that you are going to commute to or you may decide you want to live someplace like Tuck where a lot of students live in a Dorm attached to the building.
_________________
Kellogg Class of 2010...still active and willing to help. However, I do not do profile reviews, don't offer predictions on chances and am far to busy to review essays, so save the energy of writing me a PM seeking help for these. If I don't respond to a PM that is not one of the previously mentioned trash can destined messages, please don't take it personally I get so many messages I have a hard to responding to most. The more interesting, compelling, or humorous you message the more likely I am to respond.