I think it really depends on the course. League tables should generally be taken with a pinch of salt, though. Having said that, if there's a clear gap between the reputations of the universities, it is worth thinking about: the harsh reality is that often, prestige does matter to an extent. But it does depend on what you want to do afterwards as well. Furthermore, the emphasis is definitely on CLEAR: nobody knows what the individual rankings are on certain universities, and they obviously vary from year to year anyway. Don't put emphasis on league tables except for getting a general idea.
If going to the university closer to home can still get you where you want to be, then that's worth bearing in mind. Additionally, you have to spend 3 years of your life at university - you need to make sure it's in an area you want to be, and it's an environment you're comfortable with. With regards to money, it is expensive but every student is in the same boat and that is of course what loans are for. If you genuinely want to stay at home then by all means do so, but part of the experience of university is living away and having a taste of independent life.