Quick answer
The 978 area code serves Lowell, Massachusetts in the Eastern Time (ET) (UTC-5 / UTC-4 DST). Assigned in 1995, it covers Northeastern Massachusetts including Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill. Overlay code: 351.
- Region
- Northeastern Massachusetts, MA
- Time zone
- ET (UTC-5)
- Assigned
- 1995
- Population
- ~800,000
- Local time now
- · live
Where is area code 978?
The 978 area code is a North American Numbering Plan geographic code serving Lowell and the surrounding Northeastern Massachusetts region in Massachusetts. Assigned by the North American Numbering Plan Administration in 1995, it currently serves approximately 800,000 residents on the Eastern Time (ET) (UTC-5 / UTC-4 DST). It shares geography with overlay code 351.
Cities served by the 978 area code
The 978 area code covers 6 major cities and towns across the Northeastern Massachusetts region:
| City | State |
|---|---|
| Lowell | MA |
| Lawrence | MA |
| Haverhill | MA |
| Andover | MA |
| Salem | MA |
| Gloucester | MA |
Businesses across Lowell and surrounding cities use 978 numbers to project local presence and lift call answer rates. Industry studies of local presence dialing consistently report answer-rate gains of 20–40% over toll-free or out-of-area numbers — a caller ID that matches the recipient's region looks familiar and gets picked up.
978 area code time zone and business hours
The 978 area code is in the Eastern Time (ET) zone (UTC-5 / UTC-4 DST). Standard business hours in 978 run 9 AM to 5 PM ET.
If you're calling into 978 from a different time zone, factor in the offset. For example, an Eastern Time business calling 978 at 9 AM ET reaches Lowell at local time — likely outside standard business hours.
History of the 978 area code
The 978 area code was introduced in 1995 when the North American Numbering Plan was first deployed. As Lowell grew and number demand increased, overlay code 351 was added to serve the same geographic region — a common solution that avoids forcing existing subscribers to change their numbers.
Is the 978 area code safe? Spam and scam calls
978 is a legitimate geographic area code for Lowell — it is not a scam code or a premium-rate prefix, and a call from a 978 number is most likely a genuine local caller. The risk is not the area code itself but a tactic called neighbor spoofing: scammers fake their caller ID so an unwanted call appears to come from your own area code, because people answer familiar numbers more readily.
If you get an unexpected 978 call, a few signals point to a likely scam — a pre-recorded message, urgent pressure to act now, a demand for payment by gift card or wire transfer, or anyone asking for passwords, Social Security, or account numbers. Let suspicious calls go to voicemail, never share personal information, and report fraud to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FCC consumer guide on spoofing explains your rights under the Truth in Caller ID Act. A real Lowell business will leave a clear voicemail and will not pressure you.
US carriers verify caller ID with the STIR/SHAKEN framework, which flags many spoofed numbers as "Spam Likely" before they ring. DialPhone 978 numbers are registered for STIR/SHAKEN attestation, so calls from your business are verified as genuine and reach customers without a false spam label. See the DialPhone guide to VoIP security for more.
Why get a 978 area code number for your business?
Getting a 978 number gives your business three measurable advantages over a toll-free or out-of-area number:
- Local trust signal. Customers in Lowell recognize 978 as their home area code. Caller ID matching builds immediate credibility for service businesses, sales outreach, and patient communication.
- Higher answer rate. Calls from a familiar local area code are answered far more often than unknown or toll-free numbers — industry measurements of local presence dialing put the lift at 20–40%, which matters most for outbound sales, appointment confirmations, and time-sensitive service callbacks.
- Targeted marketing. Businesses serving Lowell and the broader Northeastern Massachusetts can advertise a local number across print, radio, billboards, and digital channels for higher conversion than a national 800 number.
For businesses in Lowell and surrounding cities, top industries that benefit from local 978 presence include Healthcare, Education, and Tech. DialPhone's AI receptionist is available for every 978 number — never miss a call, even after standard business hours.
How to get a 978 area code number
Setting up a 978 business number with DialPhone takes under 10 minutes:
- Sign up for a DialPhone plan. Choose any plan starting at $24/user/month. Free 14-day trial, no credit card required.
- Search available 978 numbers. Filter the DialPhone number inventory by area code, city, or pattern.
- Choose your number and configure. Assign your new 978 number to a user or team, set up call routing, voicemail, AI receptionist, and business SMS.
- Port your existing number (optional). Already have a 978 number? Free number porting in 2 to 5 business days with zero service interruption.
New to local numbers? The complete guide to getting a local phone number covers choosing the right area code, porting an existing line, and avoiding spam flags.
978 area code overlay codes
The Northeastern Massachusetts region is served by multiple overlay area codes:
| Area Code | Coverage |
|---|---|
| 978 | Primary area code for Northeastern Massachusetts, assigned 1995 |
| 351 | Overlay — same geography (assigned 2001) |
All overlay codes serve the same Lowell region. New subscribers may be assigned any available code; existing numbers retain their original prefix.
AI receptionist for 978 area code businesses
Every DialPhone 978 number includes optional AI receptionist coverage, available 24/7. The AI handles calls when your team is unavailable — answering common questions, booking appointments, routing urgent callers to on-call staff, and capturing voicemail with full transcription and intent tagging.
For businesses in Lowell that handle high call volume, run extended hours, or need bilingual support (especially valuable in service areas with diverse customer bases), the AI receptionist reduces voicemail backlog and improves first-call resolution.
All area codes in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has 9 active geographic area codes. The 978 area code is part of the same numbering plan as the codes listed below — calls between them are typically local within the state, depending on the carrier.
Nearby area codes
Related area codes in Massachusetts and the Eastern Time (ET) region:
- 339 area code — Quincy, Massachusetts
- 351 area code — Lowell, Massachusetts
- 413 area code — Springfield, Massachusetts
- 508 area code — Worcester, Massachusetts
- 617 area code — Boston, Massachusetts
- 774 area code — Worcester, Massachusetts
All Massachusetts area codes → · Browse all US area codes →
More area codes: ← 973 Newark · 979 Bryan →
How We Tested
DialPhone re-verifies every area code page every 90 days. Area code geography, timezone, and overlay data come from the official North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) database. Pricing reflects the published DialPhone plan tiers — see the pricing page for current details. Number availability varies; check the DialPhone signup flow for live inventory in the 978 region.
What We Don't Like
- Number availability is finite. Popular Lowell area codes can be inventory-constrained — request specific vanity patterns early.
- Porting timing varies. Most 978 ports complete in 2-5 business days; complex multi-line legacy contracts can take 7-10.
- HIPAA tier required for healthcare. The Core $24 plan doesn't include a BAA — healthcare users need Advanced ($34) or above.