Area code 351 — North and north-central Massachusetts
One of four overlays Massachusetts switched on simultaneously in May 2001, and the least noticed of them. It covers the same north-of-Boston territory as 978, over a population smaller than Boston’s or the South Shore’s — which is why, two decades later, it still holds the deepest pool of unassigned numbers in eastern Massachusetts.
New numbers available in 351Area code 351 covers north and north-central Massachusetts, sharing every street with 978 — the Merrimack Valley, the North Shore and out to Fitchburg.
It is the least familiar of the state’s eastern codes, which for a business is mostly an advantage: there is real choice of number here.
Area code 351 at a glance
- State
- Massachusetts
- Region
- North and north-central Massachusetts
- Time zone
- Eastern Time (ET)
- In service since
- May 2, 2001
- Type
- Overlay code
How a 351 number is built
Every North American number has four parts. Knowing where the seams fall answers most of what people ask about 351.
Cities and areas served by 351
- Lowell
- Lawrence
- Haverhill
- Fitchburg
- Andover
- Concord
- Gloucester
- Leominster
Codes sharing the same area
One other code covers the same ground as 351.
Nearby area codes
Bordering Massachusetts and the surrounding region. A number in one of these is close to 351 but not in it.
How 351 came about
Approved as part of a single statewide order, alongside three busier siblings.
- 1988–1997Two splits produce the territory508 is split from Boston’s 617 in 1988, and 978 is split from 508 in 1997. By the end of the decade north-of-Boston has its own code — and, like the rest of the state, a shortage building underneath it.
- Late 1990sFour shortages, one decisionRather than approve relief code by code as each ran short, the state regulator considers all four eastern territories together. Handling them separately would mean four disruptions spread across several years.
- May 2, 2001All four go live together351 enters service over the 978 territory on the same day 857 lands on Boston, 339 on the suburbs and 774 on the south. Eastern Massachusetts converts to ten-digit dialling in a single coordinated switch.
- Since 2001The least used of the fourServing a smaller population than its siblings, 351 has issued numbers far more slowly. Two decades on it remains the least recognised eastern Massachusetts code and the one with the most capacity left.
Which code should you choose?
Two codes cover the same north-of-Boston ground. The trade is familiarity against choice.
| Code | Since | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| 351 | 2001 | The widest choice of number in eastern Massachusetts |
| 978 | 1997 | The recognised local code; thinner supply |
| 617 | 1947 | Boston proper — a different market entirely |
| 339 | 2001 | The suburban ring closer to the city |
If the number needs to be memorable — read aloud, printed on a van, said down a phone — 351 is where you have the best chance of getting one. If local recognition matters more, take 978.
What people get wrong about 351
Is 351 used for spam calls?
351 is spoofed less than 978 or 617, and the reason is simply that it is less familiar — a forged number works best when the recipient recognises it. That is a comment on fraudsters’ incentives rather than any protection: any code can be displayed by anyone. Caller ID is a display field rather than proof of origin, so a 351 on screen establishes nothing about where a call came from. Treat unexpected requests for payment or personal details as suspect — so verify any unexpected demand through a number of your own choosing.
Area code 351 FAQ
What area code is 351?
351 covers north and north-central Massachusetts — Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, Andover, Gloucester, Fitchburg and Leominster. It is an overlay on 978 and covers exactly the same territory.
Is 351 a legitimate Massachusetts area code?
Yes. It has been in service since May 2001 across the same ground as 978. It is unfamiliar mainly because it serves a smaller population and has issued numbers slowly.
What is the difference between 351 and 978?
Nothing geographic — they cover identical territory. 978 arrived in 1997 and is the more recognised; 351 arrived in 2001 and has far more unassigned numbers left.
When did the 351 area code start?
On 2 May 2001, the same day Massachusetts activated overlays on its three other eastern codes — 857 on Boston, 339 on the near suburbs and 774 on the south.
Can I choose a memorable 351 number?
This is the best place in eastern Massachusetts to try. 351 has consumed its pool more slowly than any of its siblings, so patterned or repeating endings that are long gone on 978 or 617 are often still free.
What time zone is the 351 area code in?
Eastern: UTC−5 through winter, UTC−4 under daylight saving.
Is a 351 number less local than a 978?
No. An overlay adds capacity to a territory rather than taking a piece of it, so 351 is as local to Lowell, Gloucester or Fitchburg as 978 is.
How do I get a 351 business number?
Search 351 first if the number needs to be memorable — it holds more free capacity than anything else in eastern Massachusetts.
Why does this part of Massachusetts have two area codes?
Because 978 was running short and the state chose an overlay rather than another split. Adding a code to the same territory means nobody changes an existing number, at the cost of ten-digit dialling.
Do people recognise 351 as a local number?
Less readily than 978, which has been the area’s code since 1997. If instant local recognition is the point, 978 does that better; if the digits after the code matter more, 351 is the stronger choice.
Getting a 351 business number
351 numbers are still being issued, so a business anywhere can hold one and route it to wherever its team actually works — you do not need an address in Massachusetts.
- STIR/SHAKENAttested, so calls are less likely to show as spam
- AI receptionistCover for the hours nobody is at a desk
- Free portingIf you already hold a 351 number
- Recording & SMSOn the same line, no add-on