Area code
508
508 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Massachusetts, which has 9 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 508
Paste a full number and the tool checks it against the numbering plan. It returns the standard formats, the line type the plan assigns and the area code region.
Digits with or without punctuation work. Numbers outside the US are read with the +country code.
Area code 508 at a glance
NANPA lists 747 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 508, held by 22 holders across 94 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1988-07-16 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 774 (2001-05-02) |
| Prefixes in use | 747 |
| Pooled prefixes | 437 (59%) |
| Rate centers | 94 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 22 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-02-14 to 2025-11-26 (53 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 131 |
Rate centers in area code 508
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| WORCESTER | 75 | 10% |
| FRAMINGHAM | 67 | 9% |
| BROCKTON | 37 | 5% |
| FALL RIVER | 31 | 4% |
| NEWBEDFORD | 31 | 4% |
| MARLBORO | 27 | 4% |
| NATICK | 26 | 3% |
| TAUNTON | 19 | 3% |
| 86 other rate centers | 434 | 58% |
Who holds the prefixes in 508
Verizon New England holds the most prefixes, 306 (41%). 59% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon New England | 306 | 41% |
| Paetec Itel | 67 | 9% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 62 | 8% |
| Level 3 Communications | 60 | 8% |
| Mcimetro Access Transmission Services | 47 | 6% |
| Verizon Wireless | 43 | 6% |
| 16 other carriers | 162 | 22% |
A prefix holder is the company a code was assigned to, not necessarily a number's current carrier, because numbers can be ported to another company. Find which carrier a number is on, or browse the prefix holders.
History of area code 508
- 1947-01-01 Area code 617, named as the parent of 508 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1988-07-16 Area code 508 went into service.
- 1997-09-01 Area code 978 went into service and names 508 as its parent.
- 2001-05-02 Area code 774 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 508.
Area codes nearest to 508
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
Overlay codes in the same area
ZIP codes in area code 508
131 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 15 |
| Cambridge, MA | 6 |
| New Bedford, MA | 6 |
A ZIP code and an area code are unrelated systems. A ZIP code can sit in more than one area code, and an area code spans many ZIP codes.
Complaints on file for 508 numbers
3,669 FCC complaints are on file for 2,890 numbers in 508, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 170 |
| 2024 | 112 |
| 2025 | 214 |
Other area codes in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is one state with 9 area codes in the NANPA table. 508 is one of them.
Next to 508 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 508 when all are sorted by number. They are neighbours on the list, not necessarily on the map.
What the area code does and does not tell you
A number that starts with 508 was first assigned in Massachusetts. That is a fact about where the number began, and it is a useful hint when you check a form entry, for example a billing address in Massachusetts next to a 508 phone number.
It does not show where the person is today. A number stays with its owner after a move or a change of provider (number portability), and mobile numbers travel with the handset. The area code also cannot tell you whether the line is active, who the carrier is, or whether the number is mobile or fixed: the plan shares those ranges. Read more about the area code, the numbering plan and line type.
Check numbers in bulk with the API
| Product | Credits | Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Numbering-Plan Validation | 1 credit per valid number | API docs |
| Phone Intelligence (carrier and line status) | 1 credit per check (invalid numbers outside the US and Canada are free) | Product page |
Questions about area code 508
Where is area code 508?
NANPA assigns area code 508 to Massachusetts, United States.
In which state does area code 508 sit?
Massachusetts. 508 is one of 9 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 508 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 508 are Worcester, MA, Cambridge, MA and New Bedford, MA. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 508?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 508, Verizon New England holds the most prefixes, 306 prefixes or 41%.
Which time zone does 508 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 508 as Eastern (E).
What year did 508 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1988-07-16, so 508 has been in use since 1988.
Does area code 508 have an overlay?
Yes. 774 (in service 2001-05-02) shares the same area with 508, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 508?
The area codes closest to 508, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 339 (about 17 miles), 617 (about 18 miles), 781 (about 18 miles), 857 (about 19 miles) and 401 (about 28 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 508 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 747 prefixes in service in 508, spread over 94 rate centers and 22 holders.
Are there complaints about 508 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 3,669 complaints for 2,890 numbers in 508. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe.
Area code assignments: North American Numbering Plan Administrator NPA report, file dated 10/17/2026, retrieved 2026-10-17. Source file. New codes are assigned several times a year. Prefixes, rate centers, holders, time zone, in-service date and overlays: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17 and NPA report dated 2026-10-18. Complaints: FCC consumer complaints open data, fetched 2026-10-17. ZIP code places: Postal code places and coordinates: GeoNames (geonames.org), licensed CC BY 4.0.