Joseph-Kosher food is more expensive in out of town areas. So are sefarim, tziyus clothing shops, frum items… many are shipped from NY. In some areas, housing is also more expensive.
Jothar- I am not saying homeschooling is right for everyone. I know people who were (only frum school closed down) and they turned out fine. It could be the best things for some students- personal attention, smaller classes, the subject matter is better molded for the kids ect. It can work best if you do it with small groups of children, not just a single family. That way there is still some interpersonal contact and skills can be learned. Many times in the larger classes, kids are left out and grow up feeling insecure because if they arent the best at something, (or someone special’s son or daughter) they are not noticed or picked for something. This goes for the class play, the song and dance,to be the speaker at the class presentation, to be head of something, to get called on in class. They dont learn skills that way either. They learn to sulk, be silent and to not volunteer for something because they wont be picked anyways.
There are exceptions to every rule. I feel bad about the kid who was brainwashed, as you say Jothar, that this had to happen. But many people who speak about their own experiences share positive thoughts. They end up smarter, more knowledgeable, more on top of their work (depending on the program they might get a certain amount of work per week and as soon as they finished they were done and were able to go out and play), more self-confident.