As a resident of Metro DC, I'll have to vehemently disagree!
Maybe my perspective is influenced by the fact that I'm originally from Cali (San Fran), but even with that, comparing DC THE original Chocolate City with Boston is like comparing South Central with Debuke Iowa.
Personally I LOVE riding the metro since I use that time to review notes, read papers, ect and I HATE driving, which is a must is a city without much public transportation. You're right about how rude people are but unlike living in the South which I've done for most of life, at least you don't have to guess where people are coming from.
Having lived in both Boston and DC in recent years, they have far more in common than perhaps you realize in terms of cost of living, apartments, commutes, and "friendliness." I will grant you that the Metro is a much nicer subway system than the "T."
I am a life long southerner, so that perspective definitely colors my judgment of northern cities (and DC is definitely a northern city by any measure today).
In Boston, I lived in a renovated and fairly clean 2BR/1 bath brownstone condo with no central ac or heat (no heat actually was illegal under renter housing laws, but that's another story). My share of the rent was $1100 + utilities (i.e., this was a $2200/mo apartment). It was located near the Pru, in the Symphony area, a convenient location to New England Med Ctr, BU dental and med, and HMS. Across the street from my condo was a subsidized housing project, and crime/safety was definitely an issue. I originally looked at studios, but the typical studio in Boston is a dump - old, no elevators, no a/c, balky radiator heat, sub standard plumbing, fixtures, and kitchen (these studios don't really have kitchens, just a corner of the apartment with space for a tiny dorm refrig, maybe a single burner, no oven, no dishwasher, no place for a microwave, no cabinets). And forget about having a washer/dryer inside your apt - that is a luxury item.
And for that studio privilege in Boston, $1000+ is the going rate (you will see listings at $875, etc., but those are few and far between, and they are miserable - realtors use them as a "bait and switch" to move you up in to the higher priced units, and it works).
To me, life in the expensive northern and west coast cities is too expensive, and you are forced to have roommates and cram too many people into a small apartment - there is no privacy. Just not interested in that bohemian lifestyle anymore...been there and done it.
Sorry if I have hijacked the thread, but I think it ties into the OP's original question indirectly...