272 Area CodeScranton, PA
Area code 272 covers Scranton and nearby communities in Pennsylvania, in the Eastern Time (ET) zone, home to about 875,000 people across 372 cities. It overlays 570, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Overview
- Major City
- Scranton
- State
- Pennsylvania (PA)
- Timezone
- Eastern Time (ET)
- Current Time
- Overlay
- Yes – shares area with 570
Where is area code 272?
Area code 272 serves part of Scranton, PA and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (570) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 272 Area Code
What is the 272 area code?
The 272 area code serves Scranton, Pennsylvania, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 272 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 272 created?
The 272 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Scranton once the existing area code 570 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 272 Area Code
The 272 area code serves Scranton and surrounding areas in Pennsylvania. It operates within the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 570. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Scranton
- Wilkes-Barre
- Hazleton
- Williamsport
- Dunmore
- Kingston
Got a call from a 272 number? It came from Scranton, PA. Since 272 overlays with 570, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 272, Scranton holds about 9% of the population; the rest is split across 371 smaller cities.
Scranton Area Codes Overview
Scranton is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 272 area code operates alongside 570. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 272 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 272 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton | PA | 75,905 | 0% | 100% |
| Wilkes-Barre | PA | 44,661 | 0% | 100% |
| Hazleton | PA | 30,354 | 0% | 100% |
| Williamsport | PA | 27,628 | 0% | 100% |
| Dunmore | PA | 14,249 | 0% | 100% |
| Kingston | PA | 13,476 | 0% | 100% |
| Pottsville | PA | 13,404 | 0% | 100% |
| Bloomsburg | PA | 13,286 | 0% | 100% |
| Mountain Top | PA | 10,982 | 0% | 100% |
| Nanticoke | PA | 10,730 | 0% | 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 272 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 143 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 272 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 59% robocalls
- ↓ 23% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other50%72
- Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)22%32
- Energy, solar, & utilities8%12
* 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 272?
20% assigned to a telco
- 81% Landline
- 19% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (272)200- | Landline | Peerless Network Of Pennsylvania |
| (272)201- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (272)202- | Landline | Comcast Ip Phone |
| (272)203- | Landline | Onvoy |
| (272)204- | Landline | Onvoy |
| (272)205- | Landline | Telnyx |
| (272)206- | Landline | Windstream Pennsylvania |
| (272)207- | Landline | Telnyx |
| (272)208- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (272)209- | Landline | Metropcs |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 272 Area Code
Who called me from a 272 number?
A 272 number is assigned to Scranton, Pennsylvania, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 272 code to look nearby, so a 272 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 143 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 272 code (59% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 272 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 272 is a normal, officially assigned code for Scranton, Pennsylvania. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 272 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 143 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 272 code (59% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 272 area code?
Repeated calls from different 272 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 272 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 143 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 272 code (59% 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 272 number?
If you aren't expecting a 272 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 272 area code?
Block a single 272 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 272 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 272?
Area code 272 covers Scranton and the surrounding area in Pennsylvania, spanning 372 cities with about 874,599 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 570.
Is 272 a real area code?
Yes. 272 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Scranton, Pennsylvania. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 272 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 272 area code in?
The 272 area code is in the Eastern Time (ET). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 272 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 272 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 272 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 272 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.