Area code · Massachusetts
Get a 978 phone number
Unlimited calling and texting.
A 978 number reads as Lowell, Worcester, Lawrence, or the wider Boston-area suburbs, depending on who's looking at it. You pick the 978 area code right in the Ghost app, and your number is ready to call and text in minutes, no new SIM or phone plan required.
See why thousands trust Ghost for their virtual phone number
Why choose a 978 virtual phone number?
Look local to Boston-area buyers
If you're selling furniture, a car, or anything on a local marketplace, a 978 number tells buyers around Lowell, Lawrence, or Worcester that you're nearby. That local read gets replies faster than an out-of-state number.
Dating in your own zip code
Match on a dating app in Lowell or Haverhill and a 978 number just fits. It's one less thing that makes someone pause before texting back.
Moving to the region ahead of time
If you're relocating to Lowell, Worcester, or anywhere in the 978 footprint, you can set up your number before you arrive. You show up already looking like a local.
Keep the number after you leave
Left Lowell or Lawrence but still doing business or staying in touch there? Keep your 978 number in the Ghost app no matter where you live now.
Job hunting with a familiar area code
Employers in Lawrence, Haverhill, or Worcester notice when an applicant's number matches the region. A 978 number on your resume signals you're already local.
Separate work from personal life
Use a 978 number for job hunting, side gigs, or selling online, and keep your personal number for friends and family. Delete and swap it out whenever you're done.
How to get a 978 phone number
- 1
Pick your area code
Choose any 978 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 978 NumberAbout the 978 area code
Area code
978
State
Massachusetts
Overlay codes
339, 351, 617, 781, 857
Cities served
12+
The 978 area code covers a wide stretch of Massachusetts, including Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, and parts of the greater Worcester and Boston area, along with Lynn, Cambridge, and Somerville.
978 shares its calling region with the overlay code 351, and sits near neighboring codes 339, 617, 781, and 857 that cover other parts of the Boston metro. You can still choose 978 specifically when you set up your Ghost number.
The whole region runs on America/New_York time, so calls and texts between Lowell, Worcester, and Boston line up on the same clock. No need to think about time zones when you're reaching someone across the 978 footprint.
Coverage from public numbering and census data. Sources
Local economy
Why do business in Lowell?
The 978 area code spans a mix of mill cities and Boston-adjacent suburbs, from Lowell and Lawrence to Worcester and Haverhill, with a diverse economic base across the region.
Healthcare
Hospitals and clinics across Lowell, Worcester, and Lawrence employ a large share of the local workforce and serve residents throughout the 978 region.
Education
Colleges and school systems in Lowell, Cambridge, and Worcester anchor the region, drawing students and staff who rely on local phone numbers for day-to-day life.
Logistics and manufacturing
Cities like Lawrence and Haverhill have long histories as manufacturing hubs, and warehousing and distribution work remain steady parts of the local economy.
978 numbers by city
Frequently asked questions
How fast can I get a 978 phone number?
You can pick a 978 number in the Ghost app and start calling and texting within minutes. There's no store visit and no new phone plan involved.
Which cities use the 978 area code?
978 covers Boston-area cities including Lowell, Worcester, Cambridge, Lynn, Lawrence, Somerville, and Haverhill.
Can I keep my 978 number if I move away from Massachusetts?
Yes. Your 978 number stays with you in the Ghost app no matter where you move, so you can keep the local look even after you leave the 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 978 number?
Pick a 978 (or 339, 351, 617, 781, 857) number and start calling and texting in minutes.
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