Area Code 442
California
Area code 442 serves California, primarily Oceanside, in the Pacific Time (PT) time zone. It is an overlay area code sharing territory with area code 760.
Overlay Area Code
This area code is part of an overlay region, meaning the same geographic area is served by multiple area codes. Overlay codes were introduced to meet growing demand for phone numbers without requiring existing customers to change their numbers.
This area code shares its geographic region with: area code 760 (Oceanside).
In service since: 21-Nov-2009
Demographics & Economics
- Total Population
- 2,106,034
- Population Density
- 328 people/sq miabove U.S. average (U.S.: 93 people/sq mi)
- Median Household Income
- $89,672above U.S. median (U.S.: $75,144)
- Poverty Rate
- 11.1%near U.S. average (U.S.: 11.5%)
- Unemployment Rate
- 6.6%above U.S. average (U.S.: 3.6%)
- Education Attainment
- Bachelor's Degree+26.1%below U.S. average (U.S.: 33.7%)High School or Lower34.5%
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 Statistics dashboard.
Time Zone
- Pacific Time (PT)
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
CA
Major Cities
- Oceanside
- Escondido
- Victorville
- Carlsbad
- Hesperia
- Vista
- San Marcos
- Indio
- Apple Valley
- Encinitas
- Cathedral City
- Palm Desert
- Palm Springs
- El Centro
- Coachella
- Calexico
- La Quinta
- Adelanto
- Desert Hot Springs
- Fallbrook
- Twentynine Palms
- Ridgecrest
- Brawley
- Barstow
and 124 more cities
Demographics
The estimated population served by area code 442 is approximately 2,106,034. The population density is 328 people per square mile, which is higher than the national average of 93. The median household income is $89,672, which is higher than the national median of $75,144. Approximately 26.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national rate of 33.7%. This rate is lower than the national average. The poverty rate stands at 11.1%, which is near the national rate of 11.5%.
History
Area code 442 serves as an overlay for the same territory as area code 760. It was introduced in 2009 to provide additional phone number capacity for the region. It shares its territory with area code area code 760.
County Coverage
Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 442).
| County | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 944,656 | 38.6% |
| San Bernardino, CA | 590,094 | 24.1% |
| Riverside, CA | 547,411 | 22.4% |
| Imperial, CA | 215,720 | 8.8% |
| Kern, CA | 64,413 | 2.6% |
| Orange, CA | 37,470 | 1.5% |
| Mono, CA | 25,159 | 1.0% |
| Inyo, CA | 20,190 | 0.8% |
Area Code 442 Family Tree
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Area code 442 was originally assigned in 21-Nov-2009 to serve CA.
Call Context
This area code spans a mix of urban centers and rural communities across CA, with Oceanside as a primary city.
Nearby Area Codes
Area codes geographically closest to 442.
Other Area Codes in California
Area codes that also serve California, linked for easy comparison.