201 Area CodeJersey City, NJ
Area code 201 covers Jersey City and nearby communities in New Jersey, in the Eastern Time (ET) zone, home to about 1.4 million people across 68 cities. It overlays 551, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Overview
- Major City
- Jersey City
- State
- New Jersey (NJ)
- Timezone
- Eastern Time (ET)
- Current Time
- Overlay
- Yes – shares area with 551
Where is area code 201?
Area code 201 serves part of Jersey City, NJ and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (551) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 201 Area Code
What is the 201 area code?
The 201 area code serves Jersey City, New Jersey, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 201 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 201 created?
The 201 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Jersey City once the existing area code 551 began to run out of available prefixes. It added a new supply of numbers without requiring current residents to change their existing digits.
Geographic Coverage of the 201 Area Code
The 201 area code serves Jersey City and surrounding areas in New Jersey. It operates within the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 551. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Jersey City
- Bayonne
- Union City
- Hoboken
- West New York
- Hackensack
Got a call from a 201 number? It came from Jersey City, NJ. Since 201 overlays with 551, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 201, Jersey City holds about 21% of the population; the rest is split across 67 smaller cities.
Jersey City Area Codes Overview
Jersey City is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 201 area code operates alongside 551. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 201 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 201 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey City | NJ | 302,824 | 7% | 100% |
| Bayonne | NJ | 74,532 | 4% | 100% |
| Union City | NJ | 66,918 | 0% | 100% |
| Hoboken | NJ | 59,149 | 1% | 100% |
| West New York | NJ | 52,975 | 0% | 100% |
| Hackensack | NJ | 46,630 | 1% | 100% |
| Kearny | NJ | 40,866 | 3% | 79% |
| Fort Lee | NJ | 40,566 | 1% | 100% |
| Fair Lawn | NJ | 36,489 | 2% | 98% |
| Englewood | NJ | 30,221 | 2% | 100% |
* Sources: Population – U.S. Census Bureau PEP, Vintage 2024 (SUB-IP-EST2024-POP). Area code assignments – NANPA CO Code data. See our data methodology.
Has area code 201 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 754 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 201 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 56% robocalls
- ↑ 15% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other45%343
- Dropped call or no message8%64
- Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends8%63
* Caller ID is easily spoofed, so these figures reflect the number shown on caller ID, not the caller's true location – an area code alone never identifies a caller. The FTC does not verify the facts in these complaints. Source: FTC Do Not Call (DNC) Reported Calls Data, retrieved 2026-07-05.
Which prefixes and exchanges belong to area code 201?
78% assigned to a telco
- 76% Landline
- 24% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (201)200- | Landline | Verizon New Jersey |
| (201)201- | Landline | Onvoy Spectrum |
| (201)202- | Wireless | Usa Mobility Wireless |
| (201)203- | Landline | Ymax Communications |
| (201)204- | Landline | Eureka Networks |
| (201)205- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (201)206- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (201)207- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (201)208- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (201)209- | Landline | Verizon New Jersey |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 201 Area Code
Who called me from a 201 number?
A 201 number is assigned to Jersey City, New Jersey, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 201 code to look nearby, so a 201 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 754 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 201 code (56% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 201 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 201 is a normal, officially assigned code for Jersey City, New Jersey. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 201 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 754 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 201 code (56% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 201 area code?
Repeated calls from different 201 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 201 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 754 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 201 code (56% flagged as robocalls). Blocking one number rarely helps; voicemail screening, your carrier spam filter, and the Do Not Call Registry work better.
Should I answer an unknown 201 number?
If you aren't expecting a 201 call, let it ring to voicemail. Legitimate callers leave a message, most robocallers hang up when no one picks up, and answering can mark your number as active and bring more calls.
How do I block calls from the 201 area code?
Block a single 201 number from your recent-calls list (iPhone: tap the number, then Block this Caller; Android: tap the number, then Block or report spam). To cut the volume, turn on Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone or spam protection on Android, enable spam filtering from your carrier, and register at DoNotCall.gov. Blocking the entire 201 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 201?
Area code 201 covers Jersey City and the surrounding area in New Jersey, spanning 68 cities with about 1,425,524 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 551.
Is 201 a real area code?
Yes. 201 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Jersey City, New Jersey. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 201 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 201 area code in?
The 201 area code is in the Eastern Time (ET). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 201 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 201 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 201 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 201 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.