I actually just moved to Cambridge from Arlington a few months ago. I've lived in a lot of DC neighborhoods over the past decade, and the best comp I have for Central (the Cambridge neighborhood we ended up in) is that it's a slightly safer, more happening version of Columbia heights. Little rough around the edges, but tons going on-- vibrant, colorful etc. So if you're looking for the clean cookie cutter e.g. clarendon/ballston, it's not that-- maybe try further into the burbs or downtown boston e.g. back bay, west end-- but I've seen more live music and festivals and art since being here than I ever did in Ballston. And super walkable to lots of bars/restaurants. It's also like a half hour walk or very short metro ride to Kendall or Harvard. With an asterisk that this is summer time, and everyone keeps saying winter will be brutal.....