Area Code 339
Massachusetts
Area code 339 serves Massachusetts, primarily Lynn, in the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It is an overlay area code sharing territory with area code 781.
Published: Last reviewed: Verified against NANPA and FCC records
Overlay Area Code
This area code shares its geographic footprint with an overlay code, so the same cities are served by two area codes. Because overlays leave existing numbers untouched, this region's relief planning favors adding codes over redrawing boundaries.
The codes serving this same region: area code 781 (Lynn).
In service since: 02-May-2001
Demographics & Economics
- Total Population
- 2,185,799
- Population Density
- 786 people/sq miabove U.S. average (U.S.: 95 people/sq mi)
- Median Household Income
- $95,939above U.S. median (U.S.: $80,734)
- Poverty Rate
- 9.2%below U.S. average (U.S.: 12.5%)
- Unemployment Rate
- 5.2%near U.S. average (U.S.: 5.2%)
- Education Attainment
- Bachelor's Degree+42.3%above U.S. average (U.S.: 35.7%)High School or Lower29.2%
Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates. Population figures are approximate — see Sources & Methodology for details on how area code populations are derived.
See how this area code compares to all US area codes in the income ranking and density ranking.
Time Zone
- Eastern Time (ET)
NANPA Relief Status
According to the latest NANPA analysis (July 2026), this area code is not currently listed as exhausting within the next 36 months. No relief planning is in progress for this NPA.
Source: NANPA NPA Relief Planning Reports · See all relief planning statuses
Current Time
Prefix Utilization
Geographic Coverage
State
MA
Major Cities
- Lynn
- Malden
- Waltham
- Revere
- Medford
- Arlington
- Woburn
- Lexington
- Needham
- Norwood
- Wellesley
- Melrose
- Saugus
- Wakefield
- Burlington
- Reading
- Dedham
- Stoneham
- Winchester
- Marblehead
- Abington
- Swampscott
- Lynnfield
- Holbrook
and 20 more cities
Historical Timeline of Area Code 339
Area code 339 was activated on May 2, 2001, as an overlay for area code 781 in eastern Massachusetts. It was one of four overlay area codes implemented simultaneously across the region, a decision the Massachusetts DTE made after determining that geographic splits had generated significant customer complaints about forced number changes. Source: NANPA PL-234
Key milestones:
- 1947: Area code 617 established as one of the original 77 US NANP area codes, covering all of eastern Massachusetts including Boston and its suburbs.
- 1988: Area code 508 created by splitting off southeastern Massachusetts from 617, including Worcester, Fall River, and Plymouth.
- 1997: Area code 781 created by splitting off Boston's inner suburbs from 617 along the Route 128 corridor. Source: NANPA PL-069
- 2000: Massachusetts DTE orders creation of four new overlay area codes, choosing overlays over splits due to overwhelming public and industry support. Source: DTE D.T.E. 99-11
- 2001: Area code 339 activated alongside three other simultaneous overlays: area code 774 over 508, area code 857 over 617, and area code 351 over 978. Source: NANPA PL-234
The DTE's 2000 decision reversed its 1997 approach of geographic splits after customer feedback identified number change as the biggest complaint. The simultaneous four-overlay implementation enabled consistent 10-digit dialing across all of Eastern Massachusetts.
Regulatory History
Area code 339 was created through two Massachusetts DTE dockets issued on April 25, 2000, which ordered four simultaneous overlay area codes and implemented thousands block number pooling in Eastern Massachusetts. NANPA Planning Letters PL-234 and PL-069 provided the federal regulatory framework. Source: DTE D.T.E. 99-11
| Year | Event | Docket | Regulatory Action & Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 617 NPA Split | PL-069 | NANPA approved the split of 617 NPA creating area code 781 for Boston's inner suburbs. Permissive dialing began September 1, 1997; mandatory dialing December 1, 1997. Source: NANPA |
| 1999 | Number Pooling Waiver | D.T.E. 99-99 | FCC granted delegated authority to the Massachusetts DTE to implement thousands block number pooling (TNP) prior to the national implementation date. Source: DTE |
| 2000 | Four-Overlay Order | D.T.E. 99-11 | DTE ordered creation of four overlay area codes: 774 over 508, 857 over 617, 339 over 781, and 351 over 978. Chose overlays over splits due to public and industry support. Source: DTE |
| 2000 | Overlay Announcement | PL-234 | NANPA officially announced four new overlay area codes for Massachusetts. Permissive 10-digit dialing began September 15, 2000. Source: NANPA |
| 2001 | Exchange Code Distribution | Letter Order | DTE issued letter order on distribution of exchange codes in 781 and 978. Reported 87 NXXs remaining in 781 and 67 NXX requests pending in 339. Included anti-hedging provisions. Source: DTE |
County Coverage
Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 339).
| County | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex, MA | 499,789 | 37.8% |
| Norfolk, MA | 357,587 | 27.0% |
| Plymouth, MA | 224,774 | 17.0% |
| Essex, MA | 181,684 | 13.7% |
| Suffolk, MA | 59,949 | 4.5% |
Area Code 339 Family Tree
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Area code 339 was originally assigned in 02-May-2001 to serve MA.
Call Context
This area code serves a major metropolitan region with high population density in MA. The primary city is Lynn.
Nearby Area Codes
Area codes geographically closest to 339.
Other Area Codes in Massachusetts
Area codes that also serve Massachusetts, linked for easy comparison.