CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for funeral homes and funeral services in Boston, MA-NH
Funeral homes and funeral services in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area: 229 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 6-person team.
- Establishments
- 229CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,345mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 4.6U.S. 4.5
- Rank
- 5th of 727areas by count
Funeral homes and funeral services in Boston, MA-NH by the numbers
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 229 establishments classified as Funeral Homes and Funeral Services (NAICS 812210) in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area. They employed 1,345 people in mid-March and paid $76.8 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 5th out of 727 areas with published figures for funeral homes and funeral services.
Measured against its 5.0 million residents (2024 estimate), the area has 4.6 funeral homes and funeral services per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 4.5, so Boston, MA-NH is 2.1% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 5.9 employees, compared with 7.1 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $57,096, 30.8% above the national $43,650.
| Measure | Boston, MA-NH | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 229 | 370 | 15,183 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,345 | 2,246 | 107,566 |
| Annual payroll | $76,794,000 | $113,056,000 | $4,695,206,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 5.9 | 6.1 | 7.1 |
| Payroll per employee | $57,096 | $50,337 | $43,650 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 4.6 | 5.2 | 4.5 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Establishment size: funeral homes and funeral services in Boston, MA-NH
Of the funeral homes and funeral services in Boston, MA-NH that had employees in March 2023, 59.9% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 49.3%). 83.3% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 136 | 59.9% | 49.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 53 | 23.3% | 28.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 31 | 13.7% | 16.6% |
| 20–49 employees | 7 | 3.1% | 5.0% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.6% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a funeral home in Boston, MA-NH has to catch
Funeral homes receive calls at any hour, often at a family's most difficult moment, so every call must be answered with care. Coordination with clergy, cemeteries and florists also happens by phone. That holds for funeral homes and funeral services in Boston, MA-NH as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to funeral homes and funeral services in Boston, MA-NH:
- A family calls after a death at home.
- A hospice calls about a transfer.
- A florist calls about a delivery.
What funeral homes and funeral services text about
Funeral homes text service details to families who request them.
Texts sent from a local business number in Boston, MA-NH have to be registered with carriers first (10DLC); on Callata that is a one-time $49 fee, after which the whole team can text from the shared number.
What a phone system costs a funeral home in Boston, MA-NH
The average funeral home in Boston, MA-NH has 5.9 employees, so a 6-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $149.70 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $180.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $119.00 a month for 6 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $732 less than RingCentral for a funeral home in Boston, MA-NH of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $119.00 | $1,428.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $114.00 | $1,368.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $138.00 | $1,656.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $149.70 | $1,796.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $162.00 | $1,944.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $180.00 | $2,160.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Which area code to use in Boston, MA-NH
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 781 has the most, with 763 of 3,063 exchanges (25%). A local number lets families in Boston, MA-NH call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 781 | 763 | Eastern | 1997 | 339 |
| 978 | 642 | Eastern | 1997 | 351 |
| 617 | 635 | Eastern | 1947 | 857 |
| 508 | 282 | Eastern | 1988 | 774 |
| 857 | 278 | Eastern | 2001 | 617 |
| 603 | 203 | Eastern | 1947 | none |
| 774 | 163 | Eastern | 2001 | 508 |
| 339 | 97 | Eastern | 2001 | 781 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
Setting up Callata for a funeral home in Boston, MA-NH
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Boston, MA-NH is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many funeral homes and funeral services are there in Boston, MA-NH?
Census County Business Patterns counted 229 funeral homes and funeral services in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area in 2023. They employed 1,345 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 6-person funeral home?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 6 users cost $180.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $149.70 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $119.00.
What area code should a funeral home in Boston, MA-NH use?
Area code 781 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 978 and 617. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a funeral home?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.