I have driven as a tourist in the Bay Area…and I hated it. But really Boston is different. And I think it’s challenging driving. But I will let the folks who live there give their opinions.
We really can’t give you neighborhood suggestions because we have NO idea which direction your kid will need to travel to.
My kid went to Boston University. Lots of sublets in Brookline and Allston. Both on the green line IIRC…good location if your kid is commuting west. In my opinion!
Boston driving is fine. (But then I don’t have an issue with driving in Manhattan.)
Mentioned that earlier. Need more info. (Town/city where the internship is…) Plenty of Boston locals who would be happy to help if you’d care to share.For
Green Line is slower than molasses in winter – going uphill. 
For distant burbs, trains will be more valuable…
Several teams work on a project located on four locations scattered around Boston burbs. My son will know his work place by the end of month. Any location will be around 30 minutes drive from metro area.
According to recruiter, commuting won’t be so bad since it is a reverse commute.
If I know Boston bad areas, it will be nice. Just in case my son has a choice on where to work.
Boston is big enough that where you want to live for an easier commute depends on where your going. One area may be great for working south of the city but not North etc. I would avoid Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan
If this is a major corporation, there will be no “bad areas”. The former “bad areas” inside the city itself have all been through gentrification over the last 20 years. There might be places where the social options, restaurants, etc. are limited-- but inside the city I can’t think of a single neighborhood where your son can’t get easy-to-use public transportation to get around on the weekends. Boston itself is small- the Boston Metro area (inside route 128-- look at a map) is big- but it’s not like LA or Chicago big.
And your son may hate traffic, but if he’s in a van pool or car pool with co-workers, where he’s sitting in the back listening to a podcast or sleeping, he won’t hate is as much as if he’s driving a rental car every day.
I agree with @blossom
I want to add…that “reverse commute” could look very different depending on which direction your son is heading in, and which roads he will be traveling.