781 Area CodeBoston, MA
Area code 781 covers Boston and nearby communities in Massachusetts, in the Eastern Time (ET) zone, home to about 1.7 million people across 44 cities. It overlays 339, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Where is area code 781?
Area code 781 serves part of Boston, MA and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (339) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 781 Area Code
What is the 781 area code?
The 781 area code serves Boston, Massachusetts, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 781 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 781 created?
The 781 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Boston once the existing area code 339 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 781 Area Code
The 781 area code serves Boston and surrounding areas in Massachusetts. It operates within the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 339. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Boston
- Lynn
- Malden
- Waltham
- Revere
- Weymouth Town
Got a call from a 781 number? It came from Boston, MA. Since 781 overlays with 339, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 781, Boston holds about 40% of the population; the rest is split across 43 smaller cities.
Boston Area Codes Overview
Boston is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 781 area code operates alongside 339. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 781 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 781 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | MA | 673,458 | 4% | 35% |
| Lynn | MA | 103,489 | 2% | 100% |
| Malden | MA | 66,693 | 1% | 100% |
| Waltham | MA | 65,849 | 2% | 100% |
| Revere | MA | 60,702 | 1% | 99% |
| Weymouth Town | MA | 60,159 | 3% | 100% |
| Medford | MA | 59,898 | 1% | 100% |
| Woburn | MA | 43,895 | 2% | 100% |
| Arlington | MA | 42,844 | 1% | 100% |
| Braintree Town | MA | 39,134 | 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 781 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 515 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 781 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 71% robocalls
- ↑ 3% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other32%166
- Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)31%162
- Home improvement & cleaning10%52
* 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 781?
76% assigned to a telco
- 86% Landline
- 14% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (781)201- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (781)202- | Landline | Tc Systems |
| (781)203- | Landline | Mcimetro Access Transmission Services |
| (781)204- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (781)205- | Landline | Tc Systems |
| (781)206- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (781)207- | Landline | Xo Massachusets |
| (781)208- | Landline | Bandwidth.Com Clec |
| (781)209- | Landline | Rcn Telecom Services |
| (781)210- | Landline | Level 3 Communications |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 781 Area Code
Who called me from a 781 number?
A 781 number is assigned to Boston, Massachusetts, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 781 code to look nearby, so a 781 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 515 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 781 code (71% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 781 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 781 is a normal, officially assigned code for Boston, Massachusetts. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 781 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 515 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 781 code (71% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 781 area code?
Repeated calls from different 781 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 781 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 515 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 781 code (71% 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 781 number?
If you aren't expecting a 781 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 781 area code?
Block a single 781 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 781 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 781?
Area code 781 covers Boston and the surrounding area in Massachusetts, spanning 44 cities with about 1,701,113 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 339.
Is 781 a real area code?
Yes. 781 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Boston, Massachusetts. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 781 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 781 area code in?
The 781 area code is in the Eastern Time (ET). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 781 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 781 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 781 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 781 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.