area codes 508 and 774 are area codes for massachusetts. area code 508 was created in 1988 as a split from 617. it initially covered the central, northeastern, and southern portions of the state (excluding the 617 area), but after it was split by 978 in 1997, it now covers the central and southeastern portions of the state, while 978 covers the central and northeastern portions. the towns it covers include but are not limited to worcester, plymouth, new bedford, framingham, dartmouth, and bridgewater. it was overlaid by 774 in 2001.