Not sure what to expect here but I've always found FT'ers extremely helpful and knowledgable. My company is relocating me to Boston in the beginning of next year and after doing tons of research I'm still trying to nail down what neighborhood I want to live in. Any and all help from people who live/lived there is appreciated. I'll bullet point what I'm looking for like to hopefully narrow things down.

-In my late 20's moving with my fiance
-2 Bedroom in the $1900-$2300 range and definitely under $2500 including a permanent parking spot of some sort
-Must be within city limits (including Cambridge/Brookline)
-Looking for something similar to Hoboken, NJ (where we used to live) or Lincoln Park in Chicago (where we currently live)
-Must be a good walking neighborhood with plenty of restaurants and bars. A lot of people have recommended the South End but when I walk around there are no bars at all, especially sports bars. I don't think we're old enough for a neighborhood like that yet.
-However, I've been told we're too old for Allston/Brighton and that married people don't live there.
-Been focusing on Central Square in Cambridge and the Back Bay but I think the price of parking might rule out the Back Bay.
-Highway access. I will be traveling all over New England and don't want to live 20 min off the highway like some places in Brookline.
-Relative safe neighborhood where I'm not worrying about the fiance walking around by herself after dark.

Thanks in advance for any help.

I'm not sure there's any place in Boston that meets all of your requirements for the budget you've stated. I know a few married couples that live in AllBright (Allston-Brighton area) and none are unhappy with its offerings that I'm aware of.

I would recommend areas that border Back Bay and the South End, maybe around Copley square.

If those places are too expensive, consider the West End area.

Whats nice about Boston is that I know quite a few people who move every few years to try out different neighborhoods.

I don't have a great feel for rental rates these days so can only offer insight on neighborhoods.

There are some good bars in the South End (including sports bar type places) and that's the area that's probably most like Lincoln Park. But, you're right, there isn't sort of the local tavern feel to that area. And, no shot of private parking.

I live near Harvard Square and it's great. Lots of restaurants, lots of bars of different types. Your price range may put you closer to Porter Square and there are good places to eat there (and other fun parts of Cambridge are close by). Harvard Sq and Porter Sq are generally safer than Central Square too. But, you won't have super-easy access to the interstates.

I would not recommend Alston/Brighton for your demo.

Boston can be a bit tough for a newcomer -- Chicago seems much friendlier to me. But, it's a great town; lots of young people; lots to do.

Feel free to PM if you narrow things down and want more specific advice.

I would suggest Central Sq or Harvard Sq in Cambridge, and Copley Sq in Boston. Plenty of dining and bar options near those places. From Cambridge the Mass Pike can easily be reached driving west on Western Ave and crossing the river (10 mins.). Copley Sq has a direct access ramp to Mass Pike West Bound.

I believe that Davis Square in Somerville fits all/most of your criteria.

Lots of restaurants and bars, and a great walking neighborhood (including access to the bike/pedestrian path that goes all the way to Lexington and Bedford, 11 or 12 miles away). The housing in the neighborhood is primarily 2- and 3-decker houses: one floow is typically occupied by the owner, and each of the other floors is rented out. So you'd have the floor (usually 2 BR, living room, kithcen, possibly dining area, possibly porch) to yourselves. Parking is available either on-street or in the house's driveway. Also, Davis Sq is on the Red Line for great access to the city. Should be able to find very nice place for your budget.

Somerville isn't technically Cambridge or Boston or Brookline, but it's just as easy (in fact, easier in many cases than Brookline). Davis Sq itself is less than half-mile from the Cambridge line.

Actually 20 minutes off the freeway isn't bad in Boston. Also, depending on your travel patterns you have to be aware that if you're convenient to the Mass Pike (I-90) you won't be convenient to I-93 and vice versa. Getting to I-93 via Storrow Drive, for example, can be highly amusing/irritating depending on how badly you need to get somewhere on time.

You may want to consider East Cambridge (by the Lechmere area) which has relatively decent highway access and is consider an "up and coming" area before the whole housing crash issue. There are some nice condos in the vicinity and amenities aren't bad.

One wild card is the continued bridge renovation projects in the area. The Bourne bridge just started repairs but those are scheduled to be completed by early next year. The Boston University Bridge has been under construction for over a year and won't be complete for another year. This makes traffic on the Cambridge side heading for the pike in the afternoon even worse than it previously had been.

Central Square in Cambridge is where a lot of the homeless/indigent services are located which is why the demographics there after dark is far different than a walk through Davis Square in Somerville at night. For some this can be somewhat disconcerting and Central Square can be somewhat patchwork in terms of safety.

Harvard/Porter are viewed as "nicer" but freeway access is somewhat more difficult from there as well. Never underestimate the time it takes you to drive a mile in Boston during rush hour.

I would not discount Allston/Brighton, particularly since Harvard has pulled back on their expansion plans. This has made rents stabilize to some degree. I think you'll be hard pressed for $1900 overall in Boston but willingness to extend to $2300 should give you some flexibility.

I would check the no-fee listings on the Boston Craigslist to give you an idea of how things are currently on the rental market. January is a good time to look in some ways as the market is quite soft and you'll have some negotiating room as a result. There's less inventory, but the inventory that is available is usually fairly motivated to sign a lease.

Thank you to everyone for your insight. I think based on feedback here and other places I'm going to refocus my efforts more towards Harvard Square-Porter Square. I really don't want to be much further from the city than that. It's good to know the info about Central Square before I got a place there. I'm in Boston every other week for work so I'll drive around those areas. Target date for the move right now is April 1 so hopefully I can get in right before the rush of June-Sept.

Your post does raise one issue - some crazy high % of rentals in Boston are September 1 - August 31. So, it can limit your ability to find places with start dates that don't mesh with that time frame.

After having lived in the Back Bay/South End vicinity for the previous three years, I have now been in Mid-Cambridge, smack in the middle of Central and Inman Squares, for the last 15 months and cannot recommend this neighborhood highly enough. Central and Inman are both short walks, and Harvard and Kendall are not much further. Great proximity to restaurants, bars, highways (Mass Pike, Sturrow, Rte. 2), and public transportation. And it's affordable and has a great neighborhood feel.

I know it probably seems far now, but I'd strongly suggest you consider Wideman's advice and look at Davis Square as well. It's less than half a mile from Porter Square, but to my mind it's significantly more "livable" in many respects. And if you get slightly north of Porter, you have a much better chance of finding apartments with parking -- much of Central and Harvard were built just before autos became commonplace, whereas the area between Porter and Davis mostly has buildings with driveways. And the highway access is a bit better in North Cambridge and Clarendon Hill, once you learn the shortcuts.

I would second Davis Sq. By the T, it is only 1 more stop than Porter Sq. And while Porter Sq has improved, it is still just a pass area through to heading further out. I found nothing special when I lived in that area. Then I also lived in Teele Sq just beyond Davis Sq, so I know that area well too.

+1 ^ I think Inman Sq and parts of East Cambridge fit your bill pretty well. Lots of restaurants/bars, but it's not a crazy college party scene or anything. Just lots of fun locals.

I'm not a fan of Central Sq. area...still a little sketchy to me. (And I really haven't seen much improvement over the years...still see the same bums that I saw 10 years ago.)

I find Central Square sketchiness charming. It's certainly not at all dangerous. And Central Square now has a nice collection of good restaurants and bars, including Craigie on Main, which has to be considered one of the best restaurants in the Boston area.

I wholeheartedly agree with all of this.

My only two cent pitch would be for South Boston. Still a bit rough around the edges in some ways, but so great in so many others. There's the beach, plenty of families and great bars all around. Unbeliveably good access to both the city and the highway.

I also love Davis, but would damn near put it in the same category of Allston-Brighton because of Tufts. If it's already a concern, the college kid vibe will be noticed.