Area code · Massachusetts
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The 857 area code covers Boston and the surrounding cities in eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Quincy, and Newton. It reads as local to anyone in that part of the state. You pick 857 right in the Ghost app and start calling and texting in minutes.
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Why choose a 857 virtual phone number?
Look local to Boston buyers
If you're selling something online to people in Boston or Cambridge, a 857 number makes your listing feel like it's coming from someone nearby, not out of state.
Dating apps in the metro
A 857 number matches what people in Quincy, Newton, and Boston expect to see. It's one less reason for a match to hesitate before replying.
Job hunting near Lowell and Lynn
Recruiters and hiring managers around Lowell, Lynn, and Brockton tend to notice a local area code. It signals you're already in the area or planning to be.
Moving to or from Fall River
If you're relocating to Fall River or anywhere else in the 857 region, you can get the number before you arrive and keep using it once you're settled.
Keep the number after you leave
Left Boston for another city but still doing business or staying in touch with people back in Cambridge or Newton? Keep your 857 number active from wherever you are now.
Separate work from personal life
Use a second 857 number for job listings, side gigs, or online sales, and keep your main line for friends and family in the Boston area.
How to get a 857 phone number
- 1
Pick your area code
Choose any 857 area code, or any other US or Canadian code.
- 2
Choose your number
See available numbers instantly and pick the one you like.
- 3
Start calling and texting
Your number works over WiFi or data for everyday calling and texting. No SIM card, no new phone plan.
- 4
Stay in control
Mute it, set it to Do Not Disturb, or delete and replace it whenever you want.
Ghost can't be used for 911 or emergency calls, so keep your regular line for those.
Get My 857 NumberAbout the 857 area code
Area code
857
State
Massachusetts
Overlay codes
339, 351, 617, 781, 978
Cities served
12+
The 857 area code serves Boston and the cities around it, including Cambridge, Lowell, Brockton, Lynn, Quincy, Fall River, and Newton. It's one of the main area codes for the greater Boston region in eastern Massachusetts.
857 is an overlay code, meaning it shares the same geographic footprint as 617 rather than covering a separate area. The wider region is also served by 339, 351, 781, and 978, so you'll see several different area codes on phones in the same neighborhood.
The entire 857 region runs on Eastern time. Since overlay codes share the same physical area, callers in Boston, Cambridge, or Quincy dial the full number including area code even for local calls.
Coverage from public numbering and census data. Sources
Local economy
Why do business in Boston?
The 857 region covers Boston and the surrounding cities, a metro built around large hospital systems, universities, and a dense cluster of tech and biotech companies.
Healthcare
Boston and Cambridge are home to major hospital systems and research centers, drawing clinicians, researchers, and support staff from across the 857 region.
Higher education
The area's universities and colleges bring in students, faculty, and staff year-round, many of whom need a local number while they're studying or working nearby.
Technology and biotech
Cambridge and Boston host a concentration of tech and biotech firms, and cities like Newton and Quincy provide housing for the workforce that supports them.
857 numbers by city
Frequently asked questions
How fast can I get a 857 phone number?
You can get one in the Ghost app in a few minutes. Pick 857, choose an available number, and it's ready to use for calling and texting.
Which cities use the 857 area code?
857 covers Boston and nearby cities including Cambridge, Lowell, Brockton, Lynn, Quincy, Fall River, and Newton.
Is 857 the only area code for Boston?
No. 857 overlays the same region as 617, and the wider metro is also served by 339, 351, 781, and 978. All of these can appear on numbers in the same area.
How much does Ghost cost?
Ghost Premium is $60 every 2 months and includes 5 phone numbers, unlimited calling and texting in the US and Canada, your choice of area code, and the ability to delete and replace your number. Cancel anytime. No contracts.
Ready for your 857 number?
Pick a 857 (or 339, 351, 617, 781, 978) number and start calling and texting in minutes.
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