Area code 351 — Lowell, Massachusetts

Where is area code 351?

Area code 351 is in Lowell, Massachusetts, covering Lowell and surrounding communities in Massachusetts. All 351 numbers are on Eastern Time.

Is area code 351 a scam?

No. Area code 351 is a legitimate area code serving Lowell since 2001. Scammers spoof caller ID to display 351 numbers, which is why complaints exist against a code that is itself genuine.

Neighbour spoofing is the reason a local-looking number is not a guarantee. A caller anywhere in the world can display a 351 number, and the number they display may belong to a real business in Lowell that has nothing to do with the call.

• ·Area code 351 had 225 different numbers reported for spam calls in the 30 days to 28 July 2026.
• ·Area code 351 ranks 250th of 331 US geographic area codes by spam complaint volume.
• ·Of the 240 complaints about area code 351 in the 30 days to 28 July 2026, 85% were reported as a recorded message or robocall.
• ·The most reported subject on area code 351 is reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans), appearing in 53% of its complaints in the 30 days to 28 July 2026.

What these calls were about

Each figure is that subject’s share of every 351 complaint in the 30 days to 28 July 2026, as categorised by the consumer who reported it.

Businesses can prevent their own numbers from being mistaken for calls like these.

Why am I getting text messages from area code 351?

Texts from 351 numbers follow the same pattern as calls — mostly local businesses and services. Treat any text asking for payment or credentials as suspect regardless of the code.

The common patterns are a wrong-number opener that turns into conversation, an unsolicited job offer, and a crypto or investment tip. Do not reply, do not follow the link, and forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) to report it to your carrier.

Area codes that overlay 351

Area code 351 shares its geographic footprint with one other code: 978. Overlays are laid over an existing area rather than splitting it, so all local calls require the full ten-digit number.

Who works in the Lowell area?

Area code 351 overlays 978 across northeastern Massachusetts, with Lowell as its largest city. Lowell's mills made it the cradle of the American industrial revolution, and the National Historical Park downtown preserves that story, but the working economy has moved on to healthcare, higher education, and technology. Lowell General Hospital and its parent system Tufts Medicine are among the largest employers, UMass Lowell enrolls close to twenty thousand students and runs research programs in robotics and materials, and the Route 495 corridor around the city holds defense and tech employers, with Raytheon operations in nearby Andover and Tewksbury. Lowell, Massachusetts had a population of 118,368 and a median household income of $78,658 in 2024, per DataUSA.

Who lives in the 351 region

Lowell's people are the other half of the business story. The city is home to one of the largest Cambodian-American communities in the country, alongside substantial Portuguese, Spanish, and Khmer-speaking populations, and storefronts along Merrimack Street reflect it. A 351 number, introduced in 2001, sits beside 978 without much social distinction: callers describe Massachusetts customers as long since resigned to overlays and ten-digit dialing. Phone style in the Merrimack Valley is generally described as direct and quick, closer to Boston's pace than to rural New England's. Callers from outside should expect Eastern Time, short pleasantries, and an appreciation for getting to the point before the second sentence.

Questions