Locations for Area Code - 978

Area code 978 serves northeastern Massachusetts outside of Boston, including cities like Lowell, Lawrence, Fitchburg, and Andover. Created in 1997 from a split with 508 and overlaid by 351 in 2001, the area is home to historic mill towns, tech corridors, and growing suburbs. Ten-digit dialing is now required. Area code 978 reflects a region shaped by both its colonial past and its modern role in research, manufacturing, and education. It remains a core identifier for communities north of the Boston metro.