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[monarda]

I don't know if it still exists, but there used to be a free shuttle from Harvard Square to the Longwood Medical area that ran numerous times per day. That would be convenient if you lived in East Cambridge or Somerville. When I lived there, I was in East Arlington, and either biked all the way to Longwood, or took the 77 bus to Harvard then the shuttle to Longwood.  I found that no matter what method I chose, it took 20 minutes to Longwood from my house. Either biking, public transit (bus plus shuttle), or driving (counting the 10+ minute walk from whatever parking place I'd be able to find)

But I lived out there in the early 1980's, so things might be different now!

[dcbetty]

If you want to be in the Longwood area, try Roslindale, a neighborhood between JP (Jamaica Plain, the traditionally funky/hipster neighborhood) and West Roxbury (much more suburban, upscaleish). In your price range you could get a very nice place close to Roslindale Square ($1800 will actually get you a 2-3 bed) which is an up-and-coming area with some great restaurants & bakeries, interesting little boutiques, gourmet cheese shop, arboretum, etc. 

Many people now priced out of JP are moving to Roslindale, which is a good 20-30% cheaper and you often get a lot more space than you would in JP.  Much of it is the same interesting old housing stock (probably mostly early 20th c). Some people call it "suburban" but it's actually an extremely diverse neighborhood -- you'll find recent immigrants and PhDs/professors on the same block.  There's definitely a JP element coming in with artists, urban farmer types (keep an eye out for chicken coops), etc. Fantastic farmer's market.  Lots of families with young kids.

You can also get to Chinatown easily from Rozzie because it's on the orange line T.  You do have to take a bus from Roslindale to the Forest Hills T station to catch the orange line (going from Ros Square is best because there are at least 7 bus lines that make the 8-20 minute 1-mile trip, depending on traffic, many times per day -- usually you won't have to wait longer than 1-10 mins for a bus).  You could also bike it fairly easily -- there is a bike lane and a place to lock the bike at Forest Hills -- but be careful of the horrible Boston drivers.

From Forest Hills you can take the T 4 stops to Roxbury Crossing (about a 10 min ride) which is a 10-min walk to the Longwood Area, or else the 39 bus through JP right to Brigham Circle/Longwood.  (However during peak times the 39 can be VERY slow, even though it supposedly runs every 10 mins -- it's usually quicker to take the subway and walk from Rox Crossing).  Door to door from Roslindale Square to the Longwood area can be done in 30 minutes on a good day, which honestly is not bad at ALL for Boston.

Roslindale also has a commuter rail stop right in the square, which gets you to Back Bay in 10 mins and downtown to South Station (and the red line) in 13.

You might also want to look at Mission Hill if you are in the Longwood area.  Lots of students.  Not a ton of amenities in that part of town but you'd be able to walk to Children's.