I’m going to be in New Orleans from about end of November to middle of April. I’ll be looking for a room or small furnished apartment to rent. I looked up rentals in the newspaper and they look pretty reasonable. The problem is I have no idea where the various locations are and if they are someplace I would like to live. I’ve seen pictures of the French Quarter but I’ve heard it’s not such a good place to live. Is that true? If you were me and wanted something in one of the older, more interesting parts of the city, where would you look? By the way, I read the French quarter is gay, but that’s okay.
Along Bayou Saint John, across from City Park, is pretty nice. But just beware of potential flooding from hurricanes, anywhere in the city.
Also, the Garden District, by Tulane and Loyola universities is nice. There is a stretch along Carrollton Ave. before it turns into St. Charles that is pretty decent, and the steet car runs along it. A friend lived on the corner of Green & Carrollton and loved it.
I suggest driving by the areas. The French Quarter can get very noisy. A lot of traffic and tourists.
Hope you enjoy your new home. 
& let the good times roll!
If you’re only going to be there for 5 months, definitely live in the Quarter! It’s a unique area, unlike any other neighborhood in the US. Sure, I wouldn’t want to live there forever and raise kids, but it’s the best place to be immersed in the New Orleans experience. That being said, I would look for a place closer to the Esaplanade side of the quarter, rather than the side bordered by Canal (which is where all the rambuctious tourists are). Although, even in the ‘touristy’ side of the quarter, things are pretty quiet once you get just a block or two north of Bourbon Street.
If the idea of the quarter doesn’t sit well, I’d second the Garden district as a lovely (if slightly less exciting) option.
I went to Tulane so I have a little experience with New Orleans housing. The uptown area close to Tulane and Loyola can be pretty nice as previously mentioned. If you can find a place on a side street close to St. Charles, that would tend to be good.
I don’t know if living in the quarter is the best idea. The parking sucks, it is not that safe, and the experience may be a little too intense for you.
I third the idea of the garden district or uptown close to the universities and in close proximity to St. Charles and the street car line.
Lifelong New Orleans resident here, stuck working in Mississippi for the time being. 
God, I miss home …
Anyway … back to your questions, suezeekay. I have a few questions to ask of you to help give you more definitive and tailored answers:
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What is your price range? Renting in New Orleans is extremely reasonable compared to most all other big cities. But knowing what you’re looking for price-wise would help a lot, as there is considerable variance.
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Will you have an automobile? Despite the presence of the aforementioned St. Charles Ave. streetcar, public transportation in New Orleans is pretty dismal compared to most all other big cities. Will you be working in the city itself? In a suburb? Will you have to be responsible for having to get somewhere in the city reliably every day at the same time?
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If you will be working in the city, can you give the address of your employer? If not, an approximate address will help (ex. say “1000 block of Baronne” for 1012 Baronne St.) – or even just give a ZIP code.
I’ll be happy to help … just need a little more info! 
[nitpick]
Suezeekay will be in town at just about the right time to miss hurricanes. Hurricane season runs from May through November. Then the Gulf of Mexico waters cool off and the conditions for hurricane development become decidedly unfavorable.
Hurricane-induced flooding is actually not at all a frequent problem in New Orleans, as may be commonly thought. What’s really problem is regular ol’ heavy-rain flooding that comes with no warning. But I can never remember flooding happening over the winter months. Come late March, and into April – yeah, then give flooding a second thought.
[/nitpick]
Suezeekay, just thought of another consideration – you will be in town for Mardi Gras. If you live on or close to a parade route, or if you live in the French Quarter, you will have problems getting out and about to do any errands during Carnival.
Of course, you may also want to be in the middle of the action for Carnival – and that’s fine. You just have to consider all this before picking a potential address. Sometimes, proximity to a parade route is a selling point in a rental, and the price of said rental may consequently be a little higher than other rentals a few bocks away.