Area code
978
978 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 978
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 978 at a glance
NANPA lists 773 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 978, held by 30 holders across 58 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1997-09-01 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 351 (2001-05-02) |
| Prefixes in use | 773 |
| Pooled prefixes | 616 (80%) |
| Rate centers | 58 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 30 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-08 to 2026-01-05 (187 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 73 |
Rate centers in area code 978
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| LAWRENCE | 81 | 10% |
| LOWELL | 81 | 10% |
| BILLERICA | 38 | 5% |
| CONCORD | 30 | 4% |
| PEABODY | 30 | 4% |
| ANDOVER | 26 | 3% |
| DANVERS | 26 | 3% |
| HAVERHILL | 26 | 3% |
| 50 other rate centers | 435 | 56% |
Who holds the prefixes in 978
Verizon New England holds the most prefixes, 214 (28%). 80% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon New England | 214 | 28% |
| Paetec Itel | 90 | 12% |
| Level 3 Communications | 86 | 11% |
| Mcimetro Access Transmission Services | 71 | 9% |
| Verizon Wireless | 59 | 8% |
| TC Systems | 39 | 5% |
| 24 other carriers | 214 | 28% |
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 978
- 1988-07-16 Area code 508, named as the parent of 978 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1997-09-01 Area code 978 went into service.
- 2001-05-02 Area code 351 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 978.
Area codes nearest to 978
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 978
73 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Andover, MA | 5 |
| Lowell, MA | 5 |
| Haverhill, MA | 4 |
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 978 numbers
6,283 FCC complaints are on file for 5,546 numbers in 978, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 563 |
| 2024 | 445 |
| 2025 | 337 |
Other area codes in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is one state with 9 area codes in the NANPA table. 978 is one of them.
Next to 978 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 978 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 978 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 978 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 978
Where is area code 978?
NANPA assigns area code 978 to Massachusetts, United States.
In which state does area code 978 sit?
Massachusetts. 978 is one of 9 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 978 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 978 are Andover, MA, Lowell, MA and Haverhill, MA. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 978?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 978, Verizon New England holds the most prefixes, 214 prefixes or 28%.
Which time zone does 978 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 978 as Eastern (E).
What year did 978 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1997-09-01, so 978 has been in use since 1997.
Does area code 978 have an overlay?
Yes. 351 (in service 2001-05-02) shares the same area with 978, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 978?
The area codes closest to 978, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 617 (about 23 miles), 857 (about 23 miles), 781 (about 25 miles), 339 (about 26 miles) and 508 (about 36 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 978 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 773 prefixes in service in 978, spread over 58 rate centers and 30 holders.
Are there complaints about 978 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 6,283 complaints for 5,546 numbers in 978. 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.