The neighborhoods listed below are the best areas to live in Cambridge, with everything you need within a short walk or train ride away.

Porter square

East Cambridge/Cambridge street: lots of restaurants, businesses, green line access to Boston, 69 bus can take you to Harvard sq if needed.

Harvard sq/mid Cambridge

Central sq/riverside: short walk to post office

Fresh pond/alewife: its doable but can be harder to walk because of the bridge leading to route 2.

I would avoid living West Cambridge since it’s the least walkable part of the city, and not close to a subway line.