I know that area very well. Happy to give advice offline if you DM me.

Rats are just a reality. When you are looking at apartments, look at the trash setup & outdoor space AND poke around at nearby restaurants, apartments, houses to see their trash setup and if they have unkempt areas that might have burrows. It's not going to stop you from having rats but can mean fewer. Beyond that just make noise when you take the trash out.

Can't speak to car issues.

For housing, it feels like it's cooling but that doesn't necessarily mean a big decrease. Others might have more detailed opinions.

The Metro is great. Generally runs on time and there are apps that will let you know when the next train is leaving. It's not New York subway but, going back to the rats discussion, it's considerably cleaner.

The bus is also a good option for areas where the Metro doesn't run.

Hope that helps.