Massachusetts has 9 active area codes as of 2026, covering the state through a mix of original 1947 assignments, geographic splits, and modern overlays. This guide walks through the full list, which regions each code serves, the order they came online, and where new codes are most likely to land next.
The Short Answer
Massachusetts currently has 9 active area codes in service. The count reflects a combination of population growth, the rise of mobile lines, and the way modern numbering allocates blocks — every line activated, whether a cellphone, a business desk line, a VoIP number, or a connected device, consumes a slot in the pool.
By population, Massachusetts ranks #16 nationally with roughly 7,136,171 residents as of the most recent estimates. That puts the state’s area code count in line with its population peers — denser, faster-growing states need more codes; smaller states need fewer.
The Full List of Massachusetts Area Codes
The active area codes serving Massachusetts are listed below, in numerical order. Where a code is an overlay or a split-off from an earlier code, that relationship is noted.
- 339 — Boston's inner suburbs along the Route 128 corridor and the South Shore (overlay of 781)
- 351 — Northeastern Massachusetts (Lowell, Lawrence, Salem, Haverhill, Fitchburg) (overlay of 978)
- 413 — Western Massachusetts (Springfield, Pittsfield, Northampton, Holyoke, Greenfield)
- 508 — South-central and southeastern Massachusetts (Worcester, New Bedford, Fall River, Cape Cod)
- 617 — Boston and inner communities (Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, Quincy)
- 774 — South-central and southeastern Massachusetts (Worcester, New Bedford, Fall River, Cape Cod) (overlay of 508)
- 781 — Greater Boston suburbs (Lynn, Waltham, Medford, Weymouth, Burlington)
- 857 — Boston and inner communities (Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, Quincy) (overlay of 617)
- 978 — Northeastern Massachusetts (Lowell, Lawrence, Salem, Haverhill, Fitchburg)
How Massachusetts’s Area Codes Grew Over Time
Massachusetts was assigned 2 area codes in the original 1947 NANP launch — 413, 617 — reflecting the state’s population and territorial size at the time. Subsequent splits and overlays have added codes as demand has grown.
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Browse Massachusetts Area Codes →- 1947 — 413 and 617 assigned as Massachusetts's two original area codes at the launch of the North American Numbering Plan. 413 covered the western part of the state, and 617 covered the more populous eastern two-thirds from western Worcester County to Cape Cod.
- 1988 — 508 split off from 617 on July 16, 1988, taking Worcester County, the South Coast, and the Cape and Islands, with a semicircle around Boston retaining 617.
- 1997 — 781 split off from 617 on September 1, 1997, taking the northern, western, and southern suburbs that nearly surround Boston, leaving 617 largely coextensive with the inner ring of Greater Boston.
- 1997 — 978 split off from 508 on September 1, 1997, taking the northern part of the former 508 service area in northeastern Massachusetts.
- 2001 — 857 activated on May 2, 2001 as an overlay of 617, making ten-digit local dialing mandatory in the Boston area.
- 2001 — 339 activated on May 2, 2001 as the state's first overlay, sharing the 781 service area in the Boston suburbs.
- 2001 — 774 activated on May 2, 2001 as an overlay of 508 across south-central and southeastern Massachusetts.
- 2001 — 351 activated on May 2, 2001 as an overlay of 978 across northeastern Massachusetts.
Why Massachusetts Has Multiple Area Codes
A single area code can hold roughly 7.9 million possible phone numbers in theory — 792 valid central office codes (the second three digits) multiplied by 10,000 line numbers each. In practice the usable count is lower, because blocks of numbers are reserved, withheld, or assigned in bulk to carriers that may never fully use them. When the pool of available numbers in an area code falls below the threshold the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) tracks, the state requests relief, and either a split or an overlay is approved.
Massachusetts’s population of roughly 7,136,171 residents would, on its own, fit comfortably inside a single area code’s capacity. The reason 9 codes are needed instead is that every adult typically carries at least one mobile line, many households have multiple lines per person, businesses concentrate phone numbers at extreme density, and connected devices, VoIP services, and second-line apps all draw from the same pool. The math compounds quickly.
Massachusetts Area Codes by Region
Boston (inner core) (617, 857): Boston and its inner communities such as Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, and Quincy. 617 is an original 1947 code; 857 was overlaid on May 2, 2001.
Greater Boston suburbs (781, 339): Inner suburbs along the Route 128 corridor and the South Shore, including Lynn, Waltham, Medford, and Weymouth. 781 split off from 617 in 1997; 339 overlay added on May 2, 2001.
South-central and southeastern Massachusetts (508, 774): Worcester, New Bedford, Fall River, Brockton, Framingham, and Cape Cod and the Islands. 508 split off from 617 in 1988; 774 overlay added on May 2, 2001.
Northeastern Massachusetts (978, 351): The Merrimack Valley and North Shore, including Lowell, Lawrence, Salem, Haverhill, and Fitchburg. 978 split off from 508 in 1997; 351 overlay added on May 2, 2001.
Western Massachusetts (413): Springfield, Pittsfield, Northampton, Holyoke, and Greenfield. An original 1947 code and the only Massachusetts area code with no overlay, so seven-digit local dialing still works there.
What’s Next for Massachusetts Area Codes
Massachusetts has not added an area code since the four overlays of 2001, and its numbering pool remains comfortable. NANPA’s current NPA exhaust projections show no Massachusetts numbering plan area on the near-term relief schedule, and reports on the Boston-area 617/857 complex note no relief planning is currently underway. With statewide population growth running near one percent a year, the existing overlay pairs in Greater Boston (617/857 and 781/339) are the most likely future pressure points, but no additional code is projected to be needed in the near term.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many area codes does Massachusetts have right now?
Massachusetts has 9 active area codes in service across the territory it covers, including any overlays that share geography with an older code.
What is the oldest area code in Massachusetts?
413 is the oldest active area code in Massachusetts, assigned in 1947 when the North American Numbering Plan launched. It remains in service today, though its geographic footprint has typically been reduced by subsequent splits and overlays.
What is the newest area code in Massachusetts?
The most recent area code addition to Massachusetts was 857, activated in 2001. New phone lines provisioned in its service area are increasingly drawn from this code as older overlays approach exhaustion.
Why does Massachusetts need so many area codes?
Population growth combined with the proliferation of mobile lines, business direct-dial numbers, VoIP services, and connected devices has exhausted older codes faster than the original 1947 plan anticipated. Each new area code adds roughly 7.9 million additional phone numbers to the regional pool.
Which area codes cover Boston?
Boston proper is served by 617 and its overlay 857, which share the same territory across the city and inner communities such as Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, and Quincy. 617 is one of the original 1947 codes; 857 was added on May 2, 2001. The surrounding suburbs along Route 128 use 781 and its overlay 339.
Why does Massachusetts have so many area codes for the Boston area?
Greater Boston’s dense population and the surge in mobile phones, fax lines, and other devices in the 1990s exhausted numbers faster than anywhere else in the state. Rather than splitting regions again, regulators overlaid new codes on the same geography: 857 over 617, 339 over 781, 774 over 508, and 351 over 978, all on May 2, 2001.
Does western Massachusetts still use seven-digit dialing?
Yes. 413 covers all of western Massachusetts, including Springfield, Pittsfield, and Northampton, and it is the only area code in the state with no overlay. Because just one code serves the region, seven-digit local dialing still works there, unlike the ten-digit dialing required across eastern Massachusetts.
Is 339 a real area code?
Yes. 339 is a genuine Massachusetts area code that has served the Boston suburbs since May 2, 2001 as an overlay of 781. It covers the same towns along the Route 128 corridor and the South Shore, so a 339 number is local to communities such as Lynn, Waltham, and Weymouth.
Ready to Get a Number in Massachusetts?
We carry available Massachusetts numbers right now across multiple area codes. Order directly in 617, 339, 351, 413, or 508 — a one-time fee, no monthly charges, with pricing From $150 depending on the digit pattern and memorability of the number. Prefer help choosing? Call us at (212) 580-2000.
