Texas tops the list for ghost sightings, study reveals

DALLAS (KDAF) — The Action Network has ranked Texas as the most likely state to encounter a ghost, with a 5.15% chance of a sighting, just in time for Halloween.

The analysis by The Action Network considered factors such as ghost sightings, haunted locations, and cemeteries to determine the rankings. Following Texas, West Virginia and Maine are ranked second and third, respectively, for ghost sightings.

According to the findings, 1 in 14,000 Americans will see a ghost, with a national average of 3% odds of encountering one. The United States is home to 2,705 haunted locations, adding to the spooky allure.

10 States You’re Most Likely To See A Ghost

Rank	State	Probability	Odds	Total Sightings	Number of cemeteries	Haunted locations reported
1	Texas	5.15%	+1,842	7641	18,496	118
2	West Virginia	4.54%	+2,103	617	19,902	20
3	Maine	4.15%	+2,310	811	7,343	26
4	Kentucky	4.07%	+2,357	1261	46,718	51
5	Vermont	4.06%	+2,363	245	1,935	22
6	Montana	3.87%	+2,484	393	1,639	36
7	South Dakota	3.79%	+2,539	428	2,680	12
8	Illinois	3.65%	+2,640	2631	10,446	110
9	Ohio	3.63%	+2,655	2985	12,148	78
10	California	3.45%	+2,799	7284	2,916	207

West Virginia stands out with the highest number of cemeteries per 100,000 residents, while Vermont boasts the most haunted locations per person. In contrast, residents of Washington, D.C., are the least likely to experience a ghostly encounter.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by CW33. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by CW33 staff before being published.