Boston Neighborhoods?

Travel Info
I'm moving to Boston in August for grad school and I'm trying ot figure out where to live. I'm looking for a neighborhood that is safe but also has a lot to do near by (no car needed). The night club scene isn't really my thing, but I would like to live nearby other college students and young professionals. Any suggestions?

Travel Tips

Echoing a lot of replies from other students, I'd recommend Brighton as a really good place to check out because of the amount of young professionals and students that live in the area. Since Boston is a college town, generally anywhere you go in or around the city is going to be concentrated with students from all kinds of schools.

My cousin is about to wrap up law school and she moved to Brighton, in a fairly good apartment on the third floor. She paid $1600 for the 2 bedroom place, which by Boston standards, are good. Boston is super expensive for rents and the landlords know it.

I can totally relate to your situation because I'm not a night clubber but I want to be near where the action is. A couple other places I can recommend would be Watertown, which is next to Brighton and there's lots to do and find. Allston is pretty good and a total college neighborhood of Boston with it's mix of urban flavor, several indie shops, bars and restaurants (Allston is host to a lot of local music acts).

Adjacent to Watertown which I highly recommend for what you're looking for is Waltham, which is a suburban city that's starting to attract more students and young professionals as well. It's also got a lot going on for nightlife as far as bars and restaurants and a movie theater among some other amenities. What's particularly great is that there are a lot of places to find, three supermarkets and plenty else to do. I think it's generally one of the more affordable places in the state near Boston, and it's not that far and it's by a lot of suburbs so you're set on that end. That, and I think it's one of the few places in the state where you can genuinely have a one bedroom apartment to yourself affordably (roughly $800 and up).

Somerville is really good and it's near Cambridge (which is expensive unless you have roommates). It's got a pretty good downtown scene with a neat little movie theater, some good bars and a lot of mom and pop stores. Generally, it's got a strong age range of students and professionals.

Two other places I can recommend but you'll pay paying some serious dough is Brookline or Chestnut Hill, which has a lot of Boston College students. They're both fairly safe locations and have some upscale things, but financially, it's ridiculously pricey unless you have roommates or a trust fund. I enjoy Brookline for Coolidge Corner, the hub of this Boston area town that has an art movie theater (that hosts some pretty neat midnight screenings of cult films like a Buffy the Vampire Slayer sing-a-long or The Breakfast Club), a good little bookstore, some good eateries and a variety of independents. Brookline is situated between Allston and Brighton with Cleveland Circle, which has some pretty good things like a couple thriving bars, two really great eateries (the Eagle Deli and Boloco), a Dunkin Donuts, CVS pharmacy and the Circle movie theater (which is always dead every day and night, which is a good thing for someone quiet like me, but a bad thing for business).

Check out boston.craigslist.org
Others

You can pretty much take the T (train or subway) to anywhere. Since the city is pretty expensive you may want to go outside of the city- Like Quincy, Melrose or even Salem where apartments are cheaper and have T access. You can get T maps at http://www.mbta.com .You didn't say which school you were going to (There's a lot of schools here). You can try to look for places near your school ( think roommates). Most college areas tend to be safe neighborhoods because campus and local police tend to be around a lot.
Hope that helps
Been there done that
I have lived here all my life. The BEST place to live where it is safe is Watertown. It is a suburb about 5 miles west of Downton Boston. You can take the (T) into Boston. It is peacefull and quiet. But if you want to live near other college students, -Where there is a lot to do, then the best place in Boston would have to be the Brighton/Allston neighborhood. -However, the Asians, Brazilians and Hispanics own that section of Boston. Your best bet is to look for housing near Boston College on the Brighton/Newton line. -But rooms may be expensive. Check out Craigslist.org under Boston for rooms/apts/roomates for housing near these areas. Whatever you do, do not consider Boston's South End/Roxbury-Mission Hill /Dorchester/Mattapan/Fenway neighborhoods. The majority of crime happens in those neighborhoods.
Not sure which school you're going to so I can't say exactly which neighborhoods are closest to your particular school, but I would say Brookline is a good choice. There are lots of college students and recent graduates there (and grad students), it's near several of the universities in Boston, it's got good access to the T, it's safe, and there are a few bars and lots of great restaurants (but in general it's not as rowdy as some neighborhoods). It's also got supermarkets and you definitely don't need a car. Unfortunately, it's also kinda expensive, even by Boston standards. Although, since you don't need a car to live there, that will lower your costs quite a bit. I would also say to check out Allston/Brighton. Those neighborhoods are right near Brookline and also have good access to the T and shopping, but have more clubs/bars - particularly in Allston - so it's a little more rowdy (also there are more undergrads living there). But it's also cheaper than Brookline and is generally safe - it's less upscale but is safe. Most of Cambridge, or the Davis Square area of Somerville, are also worth looking into, especially if you're going to one of the schools in Cambridge. Watertown is nice - a little more suburban (it's west of Cambridge and north of Brighton) but it's also cheaper. It's not directly on the subway but there are several buses going into Harvard Square in Cambridge. The Back Bay area is one of the ritziest areas of Boston (also Beacon Hill) and are the most expensive to rent in. Great for upscale shopping (or more like window shopping) but I wouldn't live there. (I live in Brighton but right near the Allston and Brookline borders).
Oh Yes. Mattapan Is really nice in the summer.
If your a runner this is the nieghborhood for you.
Dorchester is a good up and coming area