Area code 978 was introduced in 1997 and serves Northeast Massachusetts, covering cities like Lowell, Lawrence, Salem. It sits in the Eastern (ET) zone and reaches a population of roughly 800K+.
With MeraTalk, you can get a 978 number for Massachusetts in minutes and run all your calls over the internet from any device.
A 978 number gives your business a genuine local footing in Massachusetts, and the benefits go well beyond a familiar caller ID.
Outbound reps dial Northeast Massachusetts prospects from a number those prospects recognize. A familiar 978 caller ID gets the conversation started instead of going to voicemail.
Give your Northeast Massachusetts customers a local number to call for help. Calls route to your support team wherever they sit, with queues, schedules, and an AI receptionist after hours.
Your team doesn't need to live in Massachusetts to answer a 978 number. Calls ring on laptops and mobiles anywhere, while customers see a hometown business.
Pair your 978 number with local numbers in other markets you serve. Each location keeps its own identity while every call lands in one shared MeraTalk workspace.
Area codes are added as a region's demand for phone numbers grows. Here's when each Massachusetts code came online — and where 978 fits in.
413 was the first of Massachusetts's current codes, assigned to Western Massachusetts and anchored by Springfield. It remains the code most residents associate with Springfield and Chicopee.
As Boston grew, 617 was introduced to keep up with demand for new numbers around Boston and Cambridge. Existing numbers kept their codes — 617 simply opened fresh inventory for the area.
As Southeast Massachusetts grew, 508 was introduced to keep up with demand for new numbers around Worcester and New Bedford. Existing numbers kept their codes — 508 simply opened fresh inventory for the area.
As Eastern Massachusetts grew, 781 was introduced to keep up with demand for new numbers around Lynn and Newton. Existing numbers kept their codes — 781 simply opened fresh inventory for the area.
As Northeast Massachusetts grew, 978 was introduced to keep up with demand for new numbers around Lowell and Lawrence. Existing numbers kept their codes — 978 simply opened fresh inventory for the area.
As Southeast MA (overlay) grew, 774 was introduced to keep up with demand for new numbers around Worcester and New Bedford. Existing numbers kept their codes — 774 simply opened fresh inventory for the area.
As Boston (overlay) grew, 857 was introduced to keep up with demand for new numbers around Boston and Cambridge. Existing numbers kept their codes — 857 simply opened fresh inventory for the area.
As Eastern MA (overlay) grew, 339 was introduced to keep up with demand for new numbers around Quincy and Braintree. Existing numbers kept their codes — 339 simply opened fresh inventory for the area.
As Northeast MA (overlay) grew, 351 was introduced to keep up with demand for new numbers around Lowell and Lawrence. Existing numbers kept their codes — 351 simply opened fresh inventory for the area.
Make and receive calls and texts from your 978 number on desktop, mobile, or desk phone. One number for everything — no app-switching, no confusion.
Answers, screens, and routes every call to your 978 number around the clock — even when your team is offline or busy.
Every call and text to your 978 number is visible to the whole team — anyone can pick up, reply, or follow up.
Missed calls become readable transcripts delivered to your inbox.
Route Northeast Massachusetts callers to the right person on your schedule.
Already have a 978 number? Bring it — porting is on every plan.
9 area codes covering Massachusetts
Area code 978 is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) — the system that assigns three-digit codes to geographic regions across the US, Canada, and parts of the Caribbean. Code 978 was assigned to Northeast Massachusetts and serves Lowell and Lawrence as its primary markets.
When a call is made to a 978 number, the carrier routes it through the Eastern (ET) time zone switching network. This also means that when customers see a 978 number on their caller ID, they immediately associate it with Northeast Massachusetts — before the call is even answered.
The area code on your caller ID shapes how customers in Northeast Massachusetts decide whether to pick up or ignore your call.
Calls from a local 978 number are far more likely to be answered than calls from an out-of-state or toll-free number. Customers in Northeast Massachusetts recognise the code and trust it as local.
A 978 number tells prospects in Massachusetts that you operate in their market — even if your team is fully remote or based elsewhere. First impressions happen before the first word.
With a cloud-hosted 978 number, your team can answer calls from any device, in any location. The local area code stays consistent while your team stays flexible.
Northeast listed first
Explore other Northeast area codes and find the right local number for every market you serve.
Set up your 978 number on MeraTalk, compare other US area codes, or read the public record for Northeast Massachusetts.
Read the in-depth guide to the 978 area code — coverage, history, cities, time zone and how to get a number.
On MeraTalkRun your 978 number on a full business phone system — calls, SMS, routing and an AI receptionist included.
On MeraTalkBrowse every US area code by state and find the right local number for the markets you serve.
External referenceSee the FCC's area code relief regulation (47 CFR §52.19) governing how area code 978 and every US area code is administered.
Same product, same support, same compliance on every plan. The AI receptionist is included from day one.
