978 area code
Area code 978 is in Massachusetts. It covers Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill and 84 other places: 107 ZIP codes in Essex, Middlesex, Worcester and 1 other county. Local time there is , Eastern Time. In service since 1997; 351 (2001) overlays it, so a number from there can have either code.
- State
- Massachusetts
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Largest city
- Lowell
- Overlays
- 351
- In service since
- 1997
- Rate centres
- 58
- Prefixes assigned
- 773 (7,730,000 numbers)
Who calls from a 978 number
NANPA records the carrier each block of 978 numbers is assigned to. Of the 7.3 million 978 numbers assigned, 48% are with cable, internet-calling, business and other carriers (Onvoy and PAETEC (Windstream)); 28% with mobile carriers (T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility); 24% with local phone companies (Verizon).
That is who the numbers were assigned to: people keep their number when they change carrier, so any one number may have moved since.
| Carrier | Kind | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Landline | 23% |
| T-Mobile | Mobile | 12% |
| Onvoy | Cable, VoIP, other | 11% |
| Verizon Wireless | Mobile | 9% |
| AT&T Mobility | Mobile | 7% |
| PAETEC (Windstream) | Cable, VoIP, other | 7% |
An area code says where a number was issued, not where the caller is: people keep their numbers when they move, and caller ID can be set to show any number, which the FCC calls spoofing. If a call you did not expect asks for money or personal details, the FCC advises hanging up and calling the company back on a number you look up yourself. Unwanted calls can be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Places in area code 978
The 57 places with a telephone rate centre of their own using 978, largest first. Each links to its ZIP codes.
Nearby places using 978
These places have no rate centre of their own in NANPA's records; the nearest one uses 978. Near an area-code boundary that can be wrong for part of a town.
- Methuen
- Dracut
- North Andover
- Tewksbury
- Chelmsford
- North Billerica
- North Chelmsford
- Lancaster
- South Hamilton
- Groveland
- West Concord
- Salisbury
- Carlisle
- Wenham
- Byfield
- Dunstable
- Newbury
- Littleton Common
- Baldwinville
- Boxford
- West Townsend
- South Lancaster
- East Pepperell
- Devens
- South Ashburnham
- Royalston
- East Templeton
- Still River
- West Boxford
- West Groton
ZIP codes in area code 978
107 ZIP codes in 83 towns, by the town each is mailed to, largest first. Each links to its own page.
Where 978 numbers are issued
NANPA's rate centres with the most 978 prefixes (each prefix is 10,000 numbers), under NANPA's own abbreviated names.
| Rate centre | Place | Prefixes |
|---|---|---|
LAWRENCE | Lawrence | 81 |
LOWELL | Lowell | 81 |
BILLERICA | Billerica | 38 |
CONCORD | Concord | 30 |
PEABODY | Peabody | 30 |
ANDOVER | Andover | 26 |
Counties
The counties of its ZIP codes, most residents first, with how many of its ZIP codes each has.
Which code covers where you are now? What area code am I in? answers from your location.
Questions about area code 978
Where is area code 978?
Area code 978 is in Massachusetts. It covers Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill and 84 other places: 107 ZIP codes in Essex, Middlesex, Worcester and 1 other county.
What ZIP codes are in area code 978?
107 ZIP codes, by the town each is mailed to: Lowell (5, 01850 to 01854), Lawrence (4, 01840 to 01843), Haverhill (4, 01830 to 01835), Peabody (2, 01960 to 01961) and 79 more towns. The full list is on this page.
What time zone is area code 978 in?
Eastern time.
Is a 978 number a mobile or a landline?
It can be either. 28% of 978 numbers are assigned to mobile carriers and 24% to local phone companies (NANPA, 2026-10-10); the rest are with cable, internet-calling, business and paging carriers. A number keeps its area code when it moves to another carrier.
What area codes overlay 978?
351. They cover the same area as 978, so a new number there can be given any of them.
Does a 978 number mean the caller is in Massachusetts?
Not necessarily. An area code says where the number was first issued. People keep their numbers when they move or switch carriers, and calling software can show any number, so a 978 call can come from anywhere.
Other area codes in Massachusetts
All 9 Massachusetts area codes, by area, with the cities each covers
Source: NANPA NPA database, central office code and thousands-block assignments, 2026-10-10. Places are matched to NANPA's rate centres by name; see sources.
Cite this page
zipcodes.pro. “Area code 978.” Data release 2026-10-12. Retrieved 2026-10-20. https://zipcodes.pro/area-code/978
Underlying data is public domain or openly licensed — sources, vintages and licences.