774 area code — Worcester, MA geographic
- State
- Massachusetts
- Major area
- Worcester
- Time zone
- Eastern
- In service since
- 2001-05-02
- Split from
- 508
- Overlay complex
- 508 / 774
- Active prefixes
- 517
- Rate centers
- 85
- Carriers
- 28
- Projected exhaust
- 4Q 2045
774 is the area code for Worcester, Massachusetts, in service since May 2, 2001, Eastern time. It is part of the 508/774 overlay complex — these codes share the same territory. Note that porting and VoIP mean a 774 number can be used from anywhere — the code marks where the number was assigned.
517 central-office prefixes are currently active in this code, spread across 28 code-holding carriers. Thousands-block pooling applies to 511 prefixes, so a single prefix can belong to several carriers. Its prefixes map to 85 distinct rate centers.
If a 774 call asks for money or personal data, treat the displayed number as unverified: hang up and reach the organization through its published number. Numbering data locates numbers, not callers.
Dialing: 10D locally, 10D to other codes (1+10 digit permissible at service provider discretion).
NANPA projects numbering capacity for the 508/774 complex to exhaust in 4Q 2045.
774 was created from 508 in 2001.
Largest localities in 774
| Locality (rate center) | Active prefixes | Also served by |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester | 39 | 508 |
| Framingham | 31 | 508 |
| Brockton | 28 | 508 |
| Fall River | 21 | 508 |
| New Bedford | 17 | 508 |
| Barnstable | 16 | 508 |
| Marlborough | 13 | 508 |
| Taunton | 11 | 508 |
| Rochester | 10 | 508 |
| Auburn | 9 | 508 |
FAQ
Is 774 a toll-free number?
No. 774 is a geographic code; calls are billed like any other domestic call. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.
Why do 508 and 774 cover the same place?
They are overlays: when a code runs low on numbers, a new code is added over the same territory instead of splitting it. The 508/774 complex shares one service area, and local calls are dialed with 10 digits.
Will 774 run out of numbers?
NANPA's current forecast projects exhaust in 4Q 2045 — decades of capacity remain.
Why am I getting spam calls from 774 numbers?
Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 774 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.
Where is a 774 number from?
774 is assigned to Worcester and surrounding areas of Massachusetts in the Eastern time zone. The three digits after the area code (the prefix) narrow it down to a rate center.