774 Area CodeWorcester, MA
Area code 774 covers Worcester and nearby communities in Massachusetts, in the Eastern Time (ET) zone, home to about 1.2 million people across 103 cities. It overlays 508, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Overview
- Major City
- Worcester
- State
- Massachusetts (MA)
- Timezone
- Eastern Time (ET)
- Current Time
- Overlay
- Yes – shares area with 508
Where is area code 774?
Area code 774 serves part of Worcester, MA and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (508) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 774 Area Code
What is the 774 area code?
The 774 area code serves Worcester, Massachusetts, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 774 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 774 created?
The 774 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Worcester once the existing area code 508 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 774 Area Code
The 774 area code serves Worcester and surrounding areas in Massachusetts. It operates within the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 508. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Worcester
- Brockton
- New Bedford
- Fall River
- Framingham
- Taunton
Got a call from a 774 number? It came from Worcester, MA. Since 774 overlays with 508, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 774, Worcester holds about 18% of the population; the rest is split across 102 smaller cities.
Worcester Area Codes Overview
Worcester is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 774 area code operates alongside 508. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 774 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 774 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | MA | 211,286 | 1% | 100% |
| Brockton | MA | 105,788 | 1% | 100% |
| New Bedford | MA | 101,318 | 1% | 100% |
| Fall River | MA | 94,689 | 1% | 100% |
| Framingham | MA | 73,361 | 1% | 100% |
| Taunton | MA | 61,936 | 1% | 100% |
| Barnstable Town | MA | 49,831 | 2% | 100% |
| Attleboro | MA | 47,085 | 1% | 100% |
| Marlborough | MA | 42,169 | 1% | 100% |
| Franklin Town | MA | 33,742 | 1% | 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 774 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 1,222 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 774 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 85% robocalls
- ↓ 23% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)54%664
- Other32%394
- Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends4%43
* 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 774?
49% assigned to a telco
- 62% Landline
- 38% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (774)200- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (774)201- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (774)202- | Landline | Comcast Ip Phone |
| (774)203- | Landline | Ctc Communications |
| (774)204- | Landline | Ctc Communications |
| (774)205- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (774)206- | Landline | Level 3 Communications |
| (774)207- | Landline | Level 3 Communications |
| (774)208- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (774)209- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 774 Area Code
Who called me from a 774 number?
A 774 number is assigned to Worcester, Massachusetts, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 774 code to look nearby, so a 774 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 1,222 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 774 code (85% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 774 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 774 is a normal, officially assigned code for Worcester, Massachusetts. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 774 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 1,222 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 774 code (85% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 774 area code?
Repeated calls from different 774 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 774 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 1,222 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 774 code (85% 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 774 number?
If you aren't expecting a 774 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 774 area code?
Block a single 774 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 774 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 774?
Area code 774 covers Worcester and the surrounding area in Massachusetts, spanning 103 cities with about 1,183,075 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 508.
Is 774 a real area code?
Yes. 774 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Worcester, Massachusetts. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 774 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 774 area code in?
The 774 area code is in the Eastern Time (ET). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 774 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 774 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 774 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 774 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.