978 Area CodeLowell, MA
Area code 978 covers Lowell and nearby communities in Massachusetts, in the Eastern Time (ET) zone, home to about 809,000 people across 45 cities. It overlays 351, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Where is area code 978?
Area code 978 serves part of Lowell, MA and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (351) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 978 Area Code
What is the 978 area code?
The 978 area code serves Lowell, Massachusetts, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 978 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 978 created?
The 978 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Lowell once the existing area code 351 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 978 Area Code
The 978 area code serves Lowell and surrounding areas in Massachusetts. It operates within the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 351. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Lowell
- Lawrence
- Haverhill
- Peabody
- Methuen Town
- Salem
Got a call from a 978 number? It came from Lowell, MA. Since 978 overlays with 351, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 978, Lowell holds about 15% of the population; the rest is split across 44 smaller cities.
Lowell Area Codes Overview
Lowell is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 978 area code operates alongside 351. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 978 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 978 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell | MA | 120,418 | 1% | 100% |
| Lawrence | MA | 89,332 | 0% | 100% |
| Haverhill | MA | 68,291 | 2% | 100% |
| Peabody | MA | 55,418 | 1% | 100% |
| Methuen Town | MA | 47,255 | 1% | 100% |
| Salem | MA | 45,677 | 1% | 100% |
| Leominster | MA | 44,209 | 2% | 100% |
| Beverly | MA | 43,223 | 1% | 100% |
| Fitchburg | MA | 42,145 | 1% | 100% |
| Gloucester | MA | 30,491 | 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 978 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 642 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 978 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 72% robocalls
- ↑ 1% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other39%252
- Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)25%163
- Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends10%66
* 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 978?
77% assigned to a telco
- 84% Landline
- 16% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (978)201- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (978)202- | Landline | Mcimetro Access Transmission Services |
| (978)203- | Landline | Ctc Communications |
| (978)204- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (978)205- | Landline | Verizon New England |
| (978)206- | Landline | Mcimetro Access Transmission Services |
| (978)207- | Landline | Comcast Ip Phone |
| (978)208- | Landline | Comcast Ip Phone |
| (978)209- | Landline | Bandwidth.Com Clec |
| (978)210- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 978 Area Code
Who called me from a 978 number?
A 978 number is assigned to Lowell, Massachusetts, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 978 code to look nearby, so a 978 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 642 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 978 code (72% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 978 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 978 is a normal, officially assigned code for Lowell, Massachusetts. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 978 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 642 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 978 code (72% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 978 area code?
Repeated calls from different 978 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 978 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 642 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 978 code (72% 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 978 number?
If you aren't expecting a 978 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 978 area code?
Block a single 978 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 978 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 978?
Area code 978 covers Lowell and the surrounding area in Massachusetts, spanning 45 cities with about 808,693 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 351.
Is 978 a real area code?
Yes. 978 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Lowell, Massachusetts. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 978 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 978 area code in?
The 978 area code is in the Eastern Time (ET). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 978 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 978 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 978 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 978 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.