Area Code 978
Massachusetts
Area code 978 serves Massachusetts, primarily Lowell, in the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It has served the region since 01-Sep-1997.
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 351 (Lowell).
In service since: 01-Sep-1997
Demographics & Economics
Demographic Data Unavailable for Area Code 978
County-level demographic data is not available for this area code because NPA boundary polygons are not publicly distributed by NANPA. We use geographic boundary data from the Colorado Open Data Portal to map area codes to counties, which currently covers 194 of 376 geographic area codes.
Demographic statistics (population, income, education, poverty) require county-level aggregations from Census ACS data. Without a county mapping, these aggregations cannot be computed. We are actively seeking additional data sources to improve coverage.
Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates where county boundary data is available.See Sources for details.
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
- Lowell
- Lawrence
- Haverhill
- Peabody
- Salem
- Leominster
- Beverly
- Fitchburg
- Gloucester
- Danvers
- Wilmington
- Gardner
- Newburyport
- Hudson
- Maynard
- Andover
- Athol
- Clinton
- Pinehurst
- West Concord
- Salisbury
- Ipswich
- Rockport
- Winchendon
and 23 more cities
Demographics
Detailed demographic and economic data is not yet available for area code 978.
History
Area code 978 was established in 1997 as a geographic area code. It shares its territory with area code area code 351.
County Coverage
Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 978).
| County | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Essex, MA | 688,881 | 47.4% |
| Middlesex, MA | 507,486 | 34.9% |
| Worcester, MA | 229,611 | 15.8% |
| Franklin, MA | 26,523 | 1.8% |
Area Code 978 Family Tree
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Area code 978 was originally assigned in 01-Sep-1997 to serve MA. Over the years, it has generated 1 descendant area code through a combination of geographic splits and overlays as demand for telephone numbers grew.
Call Context
This area code covers a geographic region across MA, including Lowell and surrounding communities.
Nearby Area Codes
Area codes geographically closest to 978.
Other Area Codes in Massachusetts
Area codes that also serve Massachusetts, linked for easy comparison.