Area code 978 — North and north-central Massachusetts
The only Massachusetts code here that is two removes from the original: 508 was split from Boston’s 617 in 1988, and 978 was split from 508 in 1997. Its territory — the Merrimack Valley, the North Shore and out to Fitchburg — is what was left after two rounds of subdivision rather than a region anyone set out to draw.
New numbers available in 978Area code 978 covers north and north-central Massachusetts: Lowell, Lawrence and Haverhill in the Merrimack Valley, Gloucester on the North Shore, and Fitchburg and Leominster to the west.
It shares that ground with the 351 overlay, added in 2001 on the same day as every other eastern Massachusetts overlay.
Area code 978 at a glance
- State
- Massachusetts
- Region
- North and north-central Massachusetts
- Time zone
- Eastern Time (ET)
- In service since
- 1997
- Type
- Geographic code
How a 978 number is built
Every North American number has four parts. Knowing where the seams fall answers most of what people ask about 978.
Cities and areas served by 978
- Lowell
- Lawrence
- Haverhill
- Fitchburg
- Andover
- Concord
- Gloucester
- Leominster
Codes sharing the same area
One other code covers the same ground as 978.
Nearby area codes
Bordering Massachusetts and the surrounding region. A number in one of these is close to 978 but not in it.
How 978 came about
Two splits and a coordinated overlay, in under fifteen years.
- 1947All of it is 617Eastern Massachusetts runs on a single original code. Lowell, Gloucester and Fitchburg all dial the same three digits as Boston.
- 1988The first division508 is split from 617, taking south-central and southeastern Massachusetts along with the northern and western fringes — a large and awkward territory wrapped around Boston’s remaining area.
- 1997978 is cut from 508Nine years later 508 is itself running short. Its northern portion — the Merrimack Valley, the North Shore and out to Fitchburg — becomes 978, making it a split of a split rather than a division of an original code.
- May 2, 2001Overlaid with the rest of the state351 goes live over the same territory as part of the single order that overlaid all four eastern Massachusetts codes on one day. Ten-digit dialling arrives here at the same moment it arrives in Boston.
Which code should you choose?
Two codes cover north and north-central Massachusetts, and they cover it identically.
| Code | Since | How it reads |
|---|---|---|
| 978 | 1997 | The established code for the Merrimack Valley and North Shore |
| 351 | 2001 | Same territory, newer, with far more numbers available |
| 617 | 1947 | Boston itself — a different market |
| 603 | 1947 | Over the state line in New Hampshire |
Either code reads as north-of-Boston to anyone local. 978 is the more familiar; 351 is the one with numbers left.
What people get wrong about 978
Is 978 used for spam calls?
978 is spoofed as a plausible suburban and small-city Massachusetts prefix. That is its usefulness to a fraudster: it reads as ordinary and local rather than as a big-city institution, which suits a call pretending to be a contractor, a delivery or a neighbour. Caller ID is a display field rather than proof of origin, so a 978 number tells you nothing about where a call began. Treat unexpected requests for payment or personal details as suspect — so check anything unexpected against a number you already trusted.
Area code 978 FAQ
What area code is 978?
978 covers north and north-central Massachusetts, including Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, Andover, Concord, Gloucester, Fitchburg and Leominster. It shares that territory with the 351 overlay.
Is 978 near Boston?
It is the territory immediately north and north-west of Boston, but it is not Boston. The city itself is 617 and 857; the ring of suburbs between them is 781 and 339.
What is the difference between 978 and 351?
Nothing geographic — 351 was overlaid on the whole 978 territory in 2001, so both cover the same ground. 978 is the older and more familiar; 351 has considerably more unassigned numbers.
When was the 978 area code created?
In 1997, when it was split from 508. That makes it a split of a split, since 508 had itself been split from Boston’s 617 in 1988.
Can I still get a 978 number?
Yes. 978 is still issuing numbers, though 351 covers identical territory and holds a larger pool if a specific pattern or memorable ending matters to you.
What time zone is the 978 area code in?
Eastern — UTC−5 in winter and UTC−4 in summer, as everywhere in Massachusetts.
Does 978 cover the North Shore?
Yes. Gloucester, Rockport and the Cape Ann communities sit in 978, along with the Merrimack Valley cities and the Fitchburg–Leominster area further inland.
How do I get a 978 business number?
Search the 978 pool for the Merrimack Valley and North Shore, or 351 if you want a say in the ending. Route it wherever your team actually is.
Why do I have to dial ten digits in the 978 area?
Because 351 overlays the same territory. Once two codes share the same streets, a seven-digit local number no longer identifies which one you mean. That has applied here since May 2001.
Is 978 in New Hampshire?
No. 978 is entirely within Massachusetts, though its northern boundary runs along the New Hampshire state line. New Hampshire uses 603 across the whole state.
Getting a 978 business number
978 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 978 number
- Recording & SMSOn the same line, no add-on