Is your home state the spookiest? A new analysis from Consumer Reports ranks the best states to celebrate Halloween, and the results may surprise you.
The so-called "Terror Tally" looks at a variety of Halloween-related factors including the states with the most haunted attractions per capita, most online searches for Halloween movies, most online searches for Halloween costumes, most pumpkin patches per capita and number of Spirit Halloween stores per capita.
According to these criteria, New Hampshire ranks at the top of the most festive states to celebrate Halloween. This northeastern Halloween HQ has both the most Spirit Halloween shops per capita (16) and the most pumpkin patches (29). The state also has 12 haunted attractions, plus ample hayrides, ghost tours, pumpkin festivals, and Halloween decor, not to mention destination-worthy fall foliage.
Visitors to New Hampshire during Halloween season may want to check out autumnal attractions, including the Spookville Haunted Trail in Nashua, the Haunted Winnipesaukee cruise in Laconia, or the graveyard tour at Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough.
Coming in second for Halloween festiveness is Maine, home to a whopping 59 pumpkin patches. In third place is Utah, followed by Idah, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Also in the top 10: Vermont, Indian, South Dakota, and Montana.
Looking to avoid Halloween? Consumer Reports also has helpful info on the least festive states for Halloween, leading with Washington D.C. New York follows (though New York City may be an exception), then Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Texas, Washington, California and Mississippi.