Our extended family (located in Mass) has sent kids to both schools
If you look up the average temperature diffference per month between the two cities Boston is 2-4 degrees colder, which is not significant.
The area around Tufts is perceived as safer with more to do. Half of Tufts is in the city of Medford and half is in the city of Somerville.
There is alot to do on the Tufts Campus, but I am curious where this bubble idea comes from. Tufts kind of melds into the city with a number of upperclassmen living in “off campus” houses that are within a block of the campus.
Technically my daughter spends more time “off campus” than on.
Somerville/Davis Square is the primary hangout. it is half a mile from campus and there is a shuttle running constantly in a loop - if you don’t want to walk. Somerville has the second highest density of young people in the country. It also includes several other squares. Powder House Square is next to campus. Ball Square and Teele Square are about a quarter to a third of a mile walk. Union Square is a couple miles away, but requires a bike, car or taking the bus.
Cambridge, which is next to Somerville, has the third highest density of young people in the country.
Harvard Square/Harvard/Charles River Walkway is 1.5 miles from Davis Square by subway. Kendall Square/MIT is two miles from Harvard by subway. Central square is between Harvard and MIT.
Boston is right across the Charles River. My daughter spent 20 hours/week first semester senior year working at an internship in Boston. That was above and beyond leisure time.
Two miles from Tufts on the Medford side is the Middlesex Fells - a 2,000 acre urban forest where my daughter goes hiking. (The Tufts Mountain Club will plan outings there as well). But if you really want to escape, the Mountain Club owns a lodge up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire (two hours away) that anyone can use - and the Mountain Club also provides vans.