If you visit a local shop, hybrids from the big companies (Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, etc.) start in the 4 or 500 dollar range and should suit your needs.

It gets confusing to the uninitiated because there are sort of 3 types of hybrids. Comfort, Recreational, and "Dual Sport." Comfort is suspension fork and fatter tires, sometimes a suspension seatpost. Dual sport means on and off road, so usually more aggressive tread on the tires with a suspension front fork. For dedicated pavement riding and the use you describe, neither of these would most likely suit you. Specifically because they are generally heavier due to the suspension forks and those forks also bounce up and down sapping your energy when you stand to accelerate or climb a hill.

A recreational hybrid is closer to a road bike, but with flat bars and wider, but not super wide, tires. They typically have similar gearing to a mountain bike, but are sufficient for around town riding, and should be plenty even if you want to pick up some speed. They also have mounts for racks and fenders should you want to go that route. And they are generally much lighter than the comfort and dual sport hybrids.

I worked in a shop that sold Trek and Cannondale, so the two models I'm most familiar with are the Trek FX series and the Cannondale Quick.

But from what you described, I think a recrational hybrid is probably what you're looking for.

EDIT: Also, it bites to have to carry a bike upstairs, but I promise you that storing it inside is much better for the bike overall and will keep you from making less frequent trips to the bike shop for major service.

EDIT 2: Here is a link to the Women's 7.2 FX. I sold a TON of these when I worked at the shop. They are extremely popular.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...fx/7_2_fx_wsd/