Maplewood - Malden, MA

Maplewood, together with its neighbors, including Edgeworth, Faulkner and Forestdale, make up the wider city of Malden. Malden’s history dates back to 1629, when Puritans settled in a then small settlement known as Mystic Side, named for its hilly location north of the Mystic River. An early settler gave it the name Malden 20 years later, finding inspiration over the seas in the name of Maldon, England. At this stage, Malden became its own town, but it wasn’t until 1882 that Malden was incorporated as a city.

Today, although still preserving its neighborly and traditional roots, Malden is a modern city encompassing business activity, a continuously evolving downtown, green retreats and a thriving social scene. Named after the number of beautiful maplewood trees whose roots have found nourishment beneath ground, Maplewood is a picturesque village in Malden’s northern boundaries.

If it’s choice you're after, head toward Maplewood Square, which provides residents with a wide range of shops and restaurants. Here you'll find the Maplewood Meat Market and its wide range of offerings, from standard cuts of beef to an assortment of exotic meats. A fish market, a Dunkin Donuts, an ice cream parlor, pizza parlors and restaurants ranging from Chinese to Italian also sit within Maplewood Square.

Maplewood does not let you down when it comes to Italian cuisine, housing a varied selection of sit-down restaurants and take-out joints. Ristorante Serena on Lebanon Street serves up dishes worthy of an old-country grandmother's home-cooked meals in a fun, homey atmosphere. Committed to providing only the freshest ingredients, the restaurant's menu includes the likes of freshly caught seafood, various cuts of meat and, of course, Italian staples like pasta and pizza.

If your dancing shoes beckon, the traditional-yet-modern Irish pub Hugh O’Neills on Pleasant Street does the trick, with a DJ or live music supplying catchy tunes. If you're still going after that, Castillo Night Club’s themed nights, which include salsa, reggaeton, and more, provides upbeat music and a wild dance floor.

Situated in an area popular with families — Malden was rated the best place to raise your kids by Bloomberg Businessweek in 2009 — Maplewood is best traveeld by car. The town provides easy access to U.S. 1, which takes you to Boston going south. Taxi services are also available in this area, including Uber.

Public transportation comes from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, with two Orange Line stations connecting all points. The fifth-busiest station out of 18 in the area, Malden Center sees around 12,000 commuters cross its path every day, connecting commuters to destinations like Haverhill and Reading. Various buses link Maplewood to the Orange Line, making Maplewood easily accessible to Boston. Maplewood Square is, after all, just 5 miles from downtown Boston. Maplewood Square lies 2 miles from Route 93 and a mile from Route One.

The streets of Maplewood and surrounding areas are also frequented by bikers, with cycling commuters often sighted along the Main Street. Groups such as Boston Bikes, a city-wide initiative encouraging cycling for commuting and leisure purposes, have meeting points at the Northern Strand Community Trail crossing, just south of Charles Street. The Northern Strand Bike trail, or Bike to the Sea Trail, provides cyclists and walkers a stretch of 9 miles of trails connecting Malden’s neighborhoods.

There are approximately 30 parks in the city of Malden, providing residents with peaceful green areas as well as recreational facilities including playgrounds, basketball courts and tennis courts.

Maplewood itself houses three public parks, namely South Broadway, Roosevelt and Trafton — the latter including the addition of tennis courts and facilities for young ones and dogs. In 2013, it was announced that South Broadway would see a makeover, with renovations expected to take two years. Plans include the installation of a synthetic turf baseball diamond and field overlay, batting cages, tennis courts and a playground.

Approximately 24,000 units of one-, two- and three-family homes exist in Maplewood, as well as residential complexes. Maplewood household incomes average about $56,088, compared to greater Malden’s slightly higher figure of $56,113. If you’re looking to buy, the average value of a Maplewood house is $355,480. Renters pay $940 on average for a one-bedroom apartment, while their surrounding neighbors paid $1,055.

The cost-of-living in Malden sits 13 percent higher than in greater Massachusetts. However, Malden comes out 5 percent lower than the national average in the price of gasoline.

Maplewood and Malden in aren't known as shopping destinations. If you're looking for big shopping malls, designer brands and a range of speciality stores, a quick trip to a neighboring town may be your best bet, with Boston just a short drive south.

Smaller shops can be found in and around Maplewood, especially focused around Maplewood Square, along with other options, such as Toy Store, Stop and Shop and a hair and nail salon.

Grocery stores around Maplewood include Baba Supermarket, India Bazaar and Super Stop and Shop. You'll also find a fish market and meat market, with fresh fish and a great range of meats.

For beautifully arranged flower arrangements, look out for O'Brien's Florist & Greenhouses on Lynn Street, a family-run shop confident that it has the right arrangement for any customer, whatever the occasion.

A short drive up into Melrose will take you to Hourglass Gift Gallery, an art gallery and gift shop with elegant and delicate products, such as jewelry, home accessories and fair trade items handmade by local artists.