Area Code 551
New Jersey
Area code 551 serves New Jersey, primarily Jersey City, in the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It is an overlay area code sharing territory with area code 201.
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 201 (Jersey City).
In service since: 29-Dec-2001
History
Area code 551 serves as an overlay for the same territory as area code 201. It was introduced in 2001 to provide additional phone number capacity for the region. It shares its territory with area code area code 201.
Demographics
The estimated population served by area code 551 is approximately 1,585,470. The population density is 5,984 people per square mile, which is higher than the national average of 94. The median household income is $123,715, which is higher than the national median of $78,538. Approximately 50.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national rate of 35.0%. This rate is higher than the national average. The poverty rate stands at 10.3%, which is lower than the national rate of 12.4%.
Demographics & Economics
- Total Population
- 1,585,470
- Population Density
- 5,984 people/sq miabove U.S. average (U.S.: 94 people/sq mi)
- Median Household Income
- $123,715above U.S. median (U.S.: $78,538)
- Poverty Rate
- 10.3%below U.S. average (U.S.: 12.4%)
- Unemployment Rate
- 5.7%near U.S. average (U.S.: 5.2%)
- Education Attainment
- Bachelor's Degree+50.4%above U.S. average (U.S.: 35.0%)High School or Lower26.7%
Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates.See Sources for details.
Geographic Coverage
State
NJ
Major Cities
- Jersey City
- Bayonne
- Union City
- Hoboken
- West New York
- Hackensack
- Kearny
- Fort Lee
- Fair Lawn
- Englewood
- Bergenfield
- Paramus
- Ridgewood
- Lodi
- Cliffside Park
- Secaucus
- Elmwood Park
- Palisades Park
- Rutherford
- Dumont
- New Milford
- North Arlington
- Tenafly
- Fairview
and 49 more cities
Time Zone
- Eastern Time (ET)
Current Time
County Coverage
Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 551).
| County | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Bergen, NJ | 884,444 | 55.8% |
| Hudson, NJ | 688,350 | 43.4% |
| Passaic, NJ | 12,676 | 0.8% |
Call Context
This area code covers a geographic region across NJ, including Jersey City and surrounding communities.
Nearby Area Codes
Area codes geographically closest to 551.
Other Area Codes in New Jersey
Area codes that also serve New Jersey, linked for easy comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about area code 551 and how phone numbering works.
Phone numbers assigned to area code 551 are tied to where they were originally provisioned — not the caller's current location. This code serving roughly 1585k people covers Jersey City in NJ, so a number originally set up there will retain the 551 prefix even if the owner moves or uses VoIP. As a densely populated metro area, Jersey City sees high call volume from both local and redirected numbers. Mobile phones keep their original number when users relocate, and businesses often adopt local area codes to establish a regional presence.
Start by looking up the area code on this site to understand its geographic context — area code 551 is associated with Jersey City in NJ. For caller-specific details, use your carrier's caller ID features or check public directories. If you suspect fraud, you can report it to the FTC. To file a complaint about robocalls or spoofed numbers, visit the FCC Consumer Complaint Center. You can also register with the National Do Not Call Registry.
When an area's available number pool runs low, regulators introduce an "overlay" code covering the same territory. Both codes coexist, and new numbers are assigned from whichever has availability. Area code 551 serves the Jersey City region in NJ, where growing demand for phone numbers necessitated an additional code. This area code shares its region with area code 201. Learn more in our overlay vs split guide.