The 978 area code
The 978 area code covers Lowell, Beverly and Salem in Massachusetts, in the Eastern time zone. Here is which cities use it, the current local time, the codes it overlays, how 978 numbers are written, and how to get a local 978 number for your business.
978 covers Lowell, Beverly and Salem in Massachusetts. It sits in the Eastern time zone, where it is currently 11:26 PM. It shares that ground with 351, so ten-digit dialling is required. Numbers are written as (978) XXX-XXXX.
Where is the 978 area code?
The 978 area code serves Lowell, Beverly and Salem in Massachusetts. It is one of the active area codes in the North American Numbering Plan, the system that assigns phone numbers across the United States, Canada, and nearby regions. A caller seeing a 978 number knows, at a glance, that the line is tied to Massachusetts.
What cities use the 978 area code?
These are the places with numbering prefixes in 978, the ones with the most prefixes first:
Lowell accounts for the largest share of 978 prefixes, with Beverly and Salem next. A local number in any of them reads as local to everyone else on the list, because they all dial on 978.
Which area codes overlay 978?
978 is part of an overlay complex with 351. An overlay puts more than one area code over the same geography instead of splitting the region in two, so existing numbers keep their code and new ones get the added code. Two neighbours on the same street can hold different area codes. That is why ten-digit dialling is required here: you cannot assume a local call shares your area code.
What time is it in the 978 area code?
The 978 area code is in the Eastern time zone. Right now it is about 11:26 PM there. If you are calling a 978 number, check the local time first so you reach someone during business hours. If you run a business on a 978 line, missing a call after hours means the caller moves on to the next name on their list.
How to write a 978 phone number
A full 978 number is ten digits: the three-digit area code, then a three-digit prefix, then a four-digit line number. It is usually written as (978) XXX-XXXX, or 978-XXX-XXXX. To dial it from outside the United States, add the country code: +1 978 XXX XXXX.
Area codes near 978
These area codes also serve Massachusetts:
Getting a local 978 number for your business
People are far more likely to answer a call from a local number. If you do business in Lowell, Beverly and Salem, a 978 number tells customers you are one of them, not an out-of-town call center. A virtual phone service can assign you a 978 number in minutes, no new hardware required.
The catch is answering it. A local number only helps if someone picks up. HiThisIs gives you a local number and a front desk that answers every call on the first ring, day or night, has a real conversation, and texts you the lead in seconds. It is a fraction of the cost of a human answering service, from $99 a month. See plans and pricing, or hear it answer on your own phone.
Common questions about the 978 area code
Where is the 978 area code?
The 978 area code covers Lowell, Beverly and Salem in Massachusetts, in the Eastern time zone.
What cities use the 978 area code?
Lowell, Beverly, Salem, Peabody, Danvers, Haverhill, Lawrence and Acton all have numbering prefixes in 978.
What time zone is the 978 area code in?
The 978 area code is in the Eastern time zone. The current local time there is 11:26 PM.
Does 978 overlay another area code?
Yes. 978 is part of an overlay complex with 351. An overlay puts more than one area code over the same geography, which is why ten-digit dialling is required there: two neighbours can hold different area codes on the same street.
Is 978 a real area code?
Yes. 978 is an active North American Numbering Plan area code serving Lowell, Beverly and Salem in Massachusetts.
How do I get a 978 phone number for my business?
A virtual phone service can assign you a local 978 number so customers in Lowell, Beverly and Salem see a familiar area code when you call, and so your business looks local. HiThisIs includes a local number with every plan and answers it around the clock.