working in Stoneham--best place to live? (Boston, Malden: rental, salary, living)

[gradstudent33]

I am a mid-twenties single female who recently landed a job with a non-profit organization in Stoneham. I would like to live in Boston because of its metropolitan appeal, but am afraid the cost of living might be too high for my meagre salary and that I won't be able to get public transport into Stoneham.

Any suggestions on a good place to live for a single person who likes to have fun and explore, but can't spend a fortune and lacks a car??

(I don't mind roomates and am looking on Craig's list)

Thanks,

gradstudent33

[Parsec]

Depending on where in Stoneham you work, your only possibility might be to just find a rental within walking distance of your work. Which intersection do you work near? There are no trains going through Stoneham and they only have 1 bus route (#132). It departs from Malden Center Station and goes through Stoneham's Main St. to the Redstone Shopping Center. It departs every half hour during rush hour and every hour during off-peak hours. Also runs every hour on Saturdays, but no service on Sunday. If your work happens to be on Main St. and you still want access into Boston on the weekends, you have 2 choices -- either live near work or live near the Malden Station and take the bus to work. The Malden Station is on the orange line, so you'll have access to Boston on the weekends if you live near there.

[Parsec]

Sorry, I was only thinking about how you'll get to work and totally forgot about your everyday needs like going to the grocery store. If you live near Malden Station, it is very easy to walk everywhere and live w/o a car. If you live in Stoneham off Main St. between Franklin and Pleasant, then it will be a little harder to get by w/o a car, but it's still very possible. There's probably a dozen restaurants along that block, a Stop & Shop and some local grocery stores, 2 Dunkins, a park, Stoneham public library, a Walgreens, and the #132 bus to get to Malden Station. Besides that little strip, it would be impossible to run your errands from anywhere else in Stoneham, so it really depends on where your job is located.