Does the physical distance from electrolyc capacitor to inductor matter?
You should try to minimize the loop area of the circuit in both modes of conduction. In particular, the part of the loop that changes between modes. 



When the transistor is on, current flows from the capacitor I drew, through L1 and C1 and the transistor (green loop). 

When the transistor turns off, current flows through D1, L1 and C1 (pink loop). 

Minimize the area of both of those loops to minimize the EMI the circuit produces. In practice that usually means putting them as close together as possible, but visualizing the loops helps.