Relocation to Boston area..HELP Please!

I have lived in several areas of boston and the suburbs and based on the $600/month you want to spend you will need to look farther out of the city. West, south and north of the city are all safe but are you working? If so, that could really help narrow your search. If you live in the suburbs and will be commuting to the city living within walking distance of a commuter rail will save you a significant amt of money. IF not, all commuter rail stops in the suburbs usually have parking lots ( the charge is $5-7 /day). There are some towns that aren't as safe ( mattapan, parts of dorchester, parts of brockton, for example) but overall the city is pretty good.
Best of luck with your move.

Yes, it is hard to find on street parking if you live in the city. You can purchase a parking permit based on the area of the city you live in, I believe it is a yearly fee. And forget it when it snows. It doesn't matter if you have a pass or not, parking is prohibitive and when people shovel out their cars, they claim those spots with chairs or whatever large object they can find.

I live in Watertown, MA, which is a 15 min drive west on the Mass Pike from Boston. I love it. It is safe, affordable, still has that city fee,l and is very family friendly. It is a breeze to get into Boston and is on the bus line. Newton, is also another great choice. It is right next to Watertown but is considerably more expensive, however the schools are a bit better.

Brookline is also beautiful, but may be out of your price range.

I am originally from the South Shore and can tell you that traffic into Boston is a mess in the mornings and evening coming home. There is a commuter rail though if you choose that route.

Not sure what your situation is (family, kids, need access to city) that might help us understand a little bit better what you are looking for.

I would suggest that you live somewhereon the outskirts of Boston...place such as Everett, Malden, Charlestown, as well as a few others. Parking IS a pain in the bum... but really its only in Boston that parking is atrocious!

Boston is definitely a city you would want to visit and talk to people about before you commit to moving here! Hard to compare to DFW, but essentially your choice is to live in the city or immediate suburbs and commute via subway, or live in the suburbs and cope with a very long, congested commute. For example, we live 14 miles north of Boston but with traffic it can take one hour to 1.5 hours to drive into the city in the morning. Parking in Boston is expensive (about $45/day) and limited to a few garages, unless you park at a subway lot (park and drive) and then hop on the MBTA to get into the city. Even then you pay for parking and a subway pass. Whether you live north, south or west of the city, everyone will tell you that their commute is the worst - but it does vary according to season. In winter the north is clogged because of people heading to ski country, in summer the south is clogged because of traffic to Cape Cod. West is always clogged because there is no "East" per se except the ocean, and the west-bound road is a toll road - the Mass Turnpike - which you will pay to drive on via car transponder.
Living in the city is definitely expensive but fun, especially if you are a student. Affordable if you have a roomate or two. If you are a Mom, you should look at school systems as part of your moving decision too!
Please visit first - Boston is a great city but in my experience if you are not from New England or open to a change in lifestyle - you may not be completely happy with the culture shock!
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Boston is a great city! Expensive yes, but there is a lot to offer in the city and in the surrounding areas, and in New England as a whole. I live in Somerville (with my husband and two kids) in a 2 bedroom. Somerville is a great city, with access to the MBTA, bike path and is close to everything, while still being affordable. Arlington is also a really nice town, a teeny bit farther out, affordable and East Arlington is close to the Alewife MBTA Red Line station as well as plenty of buses. If you go West, Newton is a little farther out from the city and a nice place to live with a lot to offer and is on the MBTA Green Line and commuter rail line.

If you go farther out there are plenty of other nice towns but you will no longer be on the MBTA line and instead will be on the commuter rail line and will likely need a car. The North Shore has loads of quaint little New England towns. I used to live in Newburyport (adorable but a long commute if you are working in Boston). I am not as familiar with the South Shore.

I'd be happy to chat with you off line if you like. Relocating, while exciting, is a big leap, especially to an unknown area. I do agree, it is important to visit first. Good luck!!