The ConsumerAffairs Research Team ranked the most Halloween-obsessed states. New Hampshire celebrates the most, while Washington, D.C. celebrates the least.
A report identified New Hampshire as the state with the highest “obsession with Halloween” in the United States. The analysis considered various factors, such as the number of haunted houses, pumpkin patches, and Spirit Halloween stores in relation to the population.
The report, conducted by Consumer Affairs, an American platform for customer reviews and consumer news, gathered data on the popularity of Halloween-related activities and online searches, including costumes, decorations, horror movies, candy, and even the iconic pumpkin spice latte.
The final score of the states was established using a weighted scale from 1 to 10, which the authors called the “scare count.”
Top 10 Most Halloween-Obsessed States:
- New Hampshire
- Maine
Maine is the state most frequently associated with horror stories, largely thanks to the work of iconic writer Stephen King (Reddit) - Utah
- Idaho
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- Vermont
- Indiana
- South Dakota
- Montana
New Hampshire stood out for its high concentration of corn mazes, haunted hayrides, and ghost tours, as well as having the highest density of Spirit Halloween stores in the country, with 1.147 stores per 100,000 residents, the study found.
The state stands out for having the following Halloween “advantages” that position it high in the ranking:
- Haunted attractions available: 12
- Number of pumpkin patches: 29
- Spirit Halloween locations: 16
- Most popular Halloween decoration: Bats
- Town with most paranormal activity: Claremont
Other standout states include Maine, with the highest number of pumpkin patches per capita; the state is frequently associated with horror stories, largely due to the work of iconic writer Stephen King, who has set many of his works in the state’s deep forests, rugged coastlines, and solitary lighthouses.
The writer has noted on more than one occasion: “Monsters are real, and ghosts are too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.” During the Halloween season, Maine’s gloomy, mysterious ambiance seems to come alive, offering a perfect setting for these imaginary beings to roam freely. The state’s residents fully embrace these celebrations, immersing themselves in the Halloween spirit with enthusiasm and creativity.
Utah, for its part, leads in horror movie searches. According to Google search data, Utah residents search for “Halloween movies” more than any other state, the report reveals. This may be partly due to the fact that some installments of the Halloween franchise were filmed there, as well as popular titles like Halloweentown High and Return to Halloweentown. Additionally, Utah ranks second in the highest concentration of Spirit Halloween stores per capita nationwide, reflecting the local enthusiasm for this holiday. Idaho, with a high general interest in Halloween, remains in the top rankings, and West Virginia, where music and decorations of the season dominate online searches, rounds out the top three.
Other states heavily involved in the celebrations include Kentucky, with the highest number of haunted attractions, and Vermont, which leads in candy-related searches. Colorado, meanwhile, shows the greatest fascination for pumpkin spice lattes.
Top 10 “Least Festive” States:
- Washington, D.C.
- New York
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- Texas
- Washington
- California
- Mississippi