- St. Louis, Cleveland, and Indianapolis are the country’s top three places for a frightfully fun Halloween.
- Portland and Los Angeles hold the eerie flag in the West for Halloween thrills.
- Ghost alert: New York, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland have the oldest housing inventories among the country’s largest metro areas.
- Los Angeles, on the other hand, shows the most online interest for all things Halloween, from costumes and décor to events and activities.
When it comes to celebrating Halloween, Americans go all in. This year alone, Halloween spending is projected to reach a staggering $11.6 billion on candy, costumes, and decorations, as reported by the National Retail Federation. But Halloween isn’t just about dollars and cents—it’s about creating the right atmosphere. From extravagant haunted houses and festive parades to an abundance of candy and eerie decorations, certain U.S. cities truly embody the Halloween spirit.
We wanted to pinpoint where Americans are set to experience a frightfully fun Halloween, so we analyzed the country’s 35 largest metro areas across several key indicators. Local interest in Halloween, as reflected by online searches for Halloween items and activities, strongly indicates the holiday’s popularity. We also measured consumer access to candy, costumes, and decorations, along with the trick-or-treating potential, which includes the presence of children and walkable neighborhoods.
Naturally, we didn’t overlook the spook factor which may extend beyond All Hallows Eve Day. We examined the number of graveyards and historical sites, as well as the age of the housing inventory—older homes often come with their own ghostly charm. And since splurging on candy, costumes, and decorations makes Halloween even more fun, we factored in household income and cost of living, with a special nod to electricity costs. After all, those Halloween animatronics and lights can really drive up the bill. Finally, we also considered the street rate for a small storage unit—because once the festivities are over, people need somewhere to safely store all those decorations until next year.
As it turns out, Midwest metros truly embrace the Halloween spirit. They’ve got it all: sprawling pumpkin patches, a strong sense of community perfect for trick-or-treating, and plenty of potentially haunted historical buildings. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the country’s top 10 metros for Halloween spirit—and what makes them stand out.
1. St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis locals are more than eager to celebrate Halloween, with 53 general Google searches related to the holiday per 1,000 residents, plus another 14 searches specifically for Halloween-themed events. This kind of enthusiasm, combined with the city’s rich history, strong community spirit, and spooky traditions, makes Halloween something truly special in St. Louis and helps it take the top spot in our ranking.
For thrill-seekers, the Lemp Brewery, along with its mysterious caves and tunnels—considered some of the most haunted places in America—is a must-visit. If that’s not enough to give you chills, there’s also Creepyworld, which markets itself as a “scream park.” Beyond the screams, locals can enjoy a haunted hayride, a monster selfie museum, and escape rooms for a full haunted experience.
For family-friendly fun, the “Boo at the Zoo” experience at St. Louis Zoo runs throughout October, offering non-scary Halloween activities, festive decorations, and educational events. St. Louis is also known for its family-oriented neighborhoods like Webster Groves, Soulard, and Lafayette Square, where homes go all out with decorations, creating a safe and fun environment for trick-or-treaters.
2. Cleveland, Ohio
The Cleveland metro area is the country’s second-best spot for celebrating Halloween, boasting nearly nine establishments per 100K residents that enhance the season’s experience: candy shops and stores that provide costumes or décor. There’s marked local interest for both Halloween in general, with 51 Google searches per 1,000 residents, and for seasonal activities, with an additional 22 searches per 1,000 residents for things like pumpkin patches or haunted houses.
And, speaking of haunting, Cleveland’s historical neighborhoods are a veritable hotspot of creepy and spooky locations. The long-closed Variety Theatre on Lorain Avenue is famous for paranormal encounters; tours are available on request. Erie Street Cemetery, the Fairport Harbor Lighthouse, or House of Wills, a crumbling funeral home on Cleveland’s East 55th Street, are other mandatory pit stops for those loving all things scary.
Known for its stunning architecture and historical significance, Lake View Cemetery is also rumored to be haunted, making it a fitting spot for a Halloween stroll. Guided tours during October delve into the stories of some of the cemetery’s most famous—and possibly ghostly—residents.
Just outside Cleveland, in Akron, you can find the Haunted Schoolhouse and Laboratory, one of the oldest and most famous haunted attractions in the U.S., terrifying visitors for decades with its intricate set designs and detailed storylines.
And there’s also the most enthralling Halloween event in the entire Cleveland area, the traditional Spooky Pooch Parade in Lakewood, taking place every year on a weekend in October and drawing serious crowds that cheer up for dogs dressed in their most festive Halloween costumes.
3. Indianapolis, Indiana
The midwestern Halloween parade continues with Indianapolis, Indiana, which boasts the fifth highest density of historical sites and graveyards among the metros in our research and where the lower cost of living leaves some leeway for cool costumes and plenty of candy.
The Halloween spirit is strong in Indianapolis, with numerous festivals and events scattered throughout the month of October, setting the stage for the big night. The Historic Irvington Halloween Festival reached its 78th edition, and tens of thousands of Indy residents and tourists are enjoying its special events year after year, from the parade and Halloween Ball to concerts, horror movie nights, blood drives, and much more. A must-visit for thrill-seekers looking for an adrenaline rush is Indy Scream Park, located just outside Indianapolis and features multiple attractions, from haunted houses to interactive scare zones.
On a quieter note, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis offers a kid-friendly haunted house every year with various levels of spookiness to accommodate different age groups, while the Indiana State Museum hosts an annual ghost stories event every Halloween, where guests can gather around a fire to hear eerie tales told by master storytellers.
4. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
The Twin Cities are packed with Halloween spirit, with nearly eight establishments per 100K residents selling candy, costumes, and decorations. There’s also a good balance between the household income and the cost of living, so locals can indulge into seasonal shopping and activities. Trick or treating is a big affair here as well, with children part of over 27% of the local households, and with numerous walkable neighborhoods in the metro area.
As for Halloween-themed events, experiences and eerie places for celebrating, the list is almost endless. The Wabasha Street Caves, in St. Paul, is an historical underground site that offers ghost tours exploring its past connections to gangsters and Prohibition-era history, making for an unforgettable Halloween tour.
The Twin Cities Horror Festival, held every October, is a sight to behold, featuring horror-themed performances, from theater and dance to live music and film. Also in the metro area, Anoka holds the title of the “Halloween Capital of the World.” The town hosts one of the longest-running Halloween celebrations in the U.S., with parades, haunted houses, and a carnival.
The metro area also boasts kid and family-friendly activities, such as Minnesota Zoo’s Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, where visitors can walk through a trail illuminated by thousands of intricately carved pumpkins. This family-friendly event is a magical and visually stunning experience. The Mall of America in Bloomington also hosts family-friendly Halloween, where kids can enjoy trick-or-treating, costume contests, and spooky-themed rides.
5. Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas
The country’s fifth best place for Halloween fun is the Kansas City metro area, where the residents’ interest in Halloween naturally blends with the strong community spirit that makes trick or treating a special experience, plus numerous shopping opportunities for candy and costumes and a sprinkle of the spook and eerie.
Local Halloween attractions and activities abound, adding to the unique atmosphere in Kansas City during this time of the year. One of the oldest haunted houses in America, The Edge of Hell, has been terrifying its visitors for over 45 years with five stories of heart-pounding scares. Another Kansas City classic is the Beast, consistently ranked as one of the top haunted houses in the country.
For those looking for lighter Halloween fare, Kansas City’s amusement park, Worlds of Fun, transforms into Halloween Haunt every October, complete with haunted mazes, scare zones, and themed rides, making it an excellent destination for families and thrill-seekers alike. Another much-anticipated Halloween event for kids is Spookfest in Science City at the iconic Union Station, where science meets Halloween thrills.
6. Portland, Oregon
Our Halloween bonanza takes a short detour to the Pacific Northwest, where Portland ranks sixth for celebratory potential. The metro area stands out as the second-best among the country’s 35 largest ones for consumer access to Halloween-related merchandise, from candy and chocolates to costumes and decorations. There’s also massive interest in Halloween-related activities, with 16 Google searches per 1,000 residents haunted houses, pumpkin patches, and other such attractions.
And when it comes to Halloween activities, Portland locals are spoiled for choice. Portland’s famous underground tunnels, known as the Shanghai Tunnels, are rumored to be haunted, and there are tours taking visitors through the dark and mysterious passageways beneath the city, providing spine-chilling stories about Portland’s darker history, including tales of kidnappings and ghostly encounters.
One iconic Halloween display in Portland is Davis Graveyard, with intricately designed gravestones, skeletons, and special effects that draw visitors from all over the city. The dedication to detail makes it one of the region’s most impressive residential Halloween displays and says a lot about Halloween spirit in Portland.
But the metro area is also home to one of the nation’s quirkiest Halloween events, the Giant Pumpkin Regatta, taking place just outside of Portland in Tualatin. Participants paddle massive, hollowed-out pumpkins across a lake in costume, creating a fun and lighthearted Halloween tradition.
7. Chicago, Illinois
Back in the heart of America, we find ourselves in the Chicago metro area, ranking 7th for Halloween fun and thrills. With its highly walkable neighborhoods—perfect for trick-or-treating—paired with a long and complex history and stunning neo-Gothic architecture, Chicago sets the stage as an ideal backdrop for the spookiest night of the year.
If you’re into ghost tours, Chicago is the place to be. The city has a storied history filled with haunted locations, and several companies offer ghost tours around the city. From the haunted Congress Plaza Hotel to the site of the Eastland Disaster, these tours make for a chilling experience. And let’s not forget Chicago’s historic Lincoln Park, one of the city’s most haunted locations, which was built over the former city cemetery.
A relatively new but already iconic Halloween event in Chicago is Arts in the Dark Parade, where performers, artists, and creators from across the city and elsewhere, show off their unique skills, including fire arts, circus arts, theater, music and dance.
Families can also enjoy the Navy Pier’s Pier Pumpkin Lights. Every October, Navy Pier lights up with thousands of pumpkins. It’s a beautiful event with spooky decorations, special Halloween activities, and even a haunted maze for the kids.
8. Cincinnati, Ohio
This metro area boasts a perfectly aged housing inventory and numerous historical sites that set the ideal Halloween atmosphere. Meanwhile, locals actively search online for the best costumes, decorations, and events. In other words, Halloween in Cincinnati is shaping up to be grand, with many activities on the table!
Locals have the opportunity to appreciate the city’s historical past and experience through the numerous ghost tours available here, including a tour of the historic Wesleyan Cemetery, or the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. The Dent Schoolhouse, a haunted house experience, is set in an actual old schoolhouse with a chilling backstory and features Hollywood-quality sets and actors that create an unforgettable scare experience.
Parents can take their little ones to the Heritage Village Museum’s Haunted Village. It’s a family-friendly event that transforms the historic Heritage Village into a spooky yet kid-friendly Halloween destination. The event features ghost stories, trick-or-treating, a haunted trail, and fun activities like a ghostly train ride.
9. Los Angeles, California
If a bit lacking when it comes to haunted historical sites, Los Angeles more than makes up for it with enthusiasm for Halloween and with its unique events drawing from the movie industry. Los Angeles ranks first for Google searches related to Halloween and for the number of establishments providing all those sweet and fun Halloween merchandise.
And, when it comes to events, the sky’s the limit. During the Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights, one of the world’s most famous Halloween events, Universal Studios transforms into a terrifying park filled with haunted mazes, scare zones, and live shows based on popular horror films and TV shows.
The West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval is one of the largest Halloween street parties in the world, attracting hundreds of thousands of costumed revelers each year. Another event that perfectly blends the city’s movie industry with Halloween chills is the classic horror film screenings at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
When it comes to spooky fun for all ages, Los Angeles Haunted Hayride takes visitors on a chilling journey through Griffith Park, featuring eerie attractions like a haunted village, mazes, and live actors. It’s perfect for those looking for scares in a natural, outdoor setting.
10. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, rounds up our top 10 of the best places in America for Halloween fans. It is also ranking first among the metro areas analyzed for the share of mysterious and eerie attractions such as graveyards and historical sites and second for its housing inventory age. On top of that, locals show an appetite for all things Halloween through their Google searches, and they have a very good chance of stumbling upon stores offering candy, costumes, and decorations.
Pittsburgh has a long, rich history with plenty of spooky stories, and there are various ghost tours exploring some of the city’s most haunted locations. From the old Allegheny County Jail, the Pittsburgh Playhouse, and even the Allegheny Health Department (the building used to be a morgue!) to the Omni William Penn Building, there’s plenty to explore of the city’s haunted past.
Kennywood, Pittsburgh’s famous amusement park, transforms into a terrifying Halloween experience every October with Phantom Fright Nights, while the Trick or Trot Halloween Run/Walk is a family-friendly event that encourages participants to wear costumes while they run or walk through Pittsburgh’s scenic North Shore. Proceeds from the race benefit local charities, making it a not only a fun, but also a meaningful Halloween event.
Keep the spook alive: Smart storage solutions for Halloween treasures
After the final trick-or-treaters have left and the last jack-o’-lantern burns out, the challenge of storing elaborate Halloween costumes, decorations, and props begins. In cities like St. Louis, Cleveland, and Indianapolis, where Halloween celebrations are grand and decorations can be extensive, self-storage provides the perfect way to declutter your home. You can maintain the magic of Halloween year after year, knowing that your decorations and costumes are safely tucked away until the next spooky season arrives. Climate-controlled units are especially beneficial in areas with cold winters and hot summers, such as the Midwest, safeguarding your items from extreme temperatures.
Self-storage costs and availability vary across the country’s largest metros. St. Louis boasts affordable storage options that make it easy to keep your Halloween gear organized without breaking the bank – renting a 5’x5’ storage unit in St. Louis amounts to about $40 per month. Meanwhile, in high-demand areas like Los Angeles, the cost of self storage is higher – a small storage unit in LA is around $85 per month.
Below, you can see self storage costs and availability in 35 major metro areas of the country:
Self Storage Rates and Availability in the Country’s Largest 35 Metro Areas
| Rank | Metro | Self Storage Street Rate (5x5) | Self Storage Availability (sq. ft./capita) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $40 | 7.0 |
| 2 | Cleveland-Elyria, OH | $44 | 5.3 |
| 3 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | $39 | 8.5 |
| 4 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $44 | 6.6 |
| 5 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $44 | 7.9 |
| 6 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $57 | 7.5 |
| 7 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $43 | 5.5 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $38 | 6.5 |
| 9 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $85 | 5.0 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $58 | 5.4 |
| 11 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $61 | 7.0 |
| 12 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $58 | 4.8 |
| 13 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $51 | 5.0 |
| 14 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $70 | 3.8 |
| 15 | Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $40 | 11.1 |
| 16 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $55 | 9.9 |
| 17 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $87 | 5.1 |
| 18 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $45 | 10.5 |
| 19 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $55 | 9.1 |
| 20 | Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | $51 | 10.3 |
| 21 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $50 | 7.4 |
| 22 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $47 | 8.9 |
| 23 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $45 | 8.6 |
| 23 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA | $44 | 9.3 |
| 25 | Columbus, OH | $39 | 6.8 |
| 26 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $58 | 5.8 |
| 27 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $75 | 6.4 |
| 28 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $48 | 5.6 |
| 29 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $43 | 10.7 |
| 30 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $47 | 9.2 |
| 31 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $48 | 6.5 |
| 32 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | $46 | 10.5 |
| 33 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $46 | 8.5 |
| 34 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL | $55 | 7.1 |
| 35 | Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | $48 | 9.7 |
From the Midwest to the West Coast, the Halloween spirit is alive and well, with each metro area putting its unique spin on the spooky season. Whether it’s the historic haunts, quirky festivals, or family-friendly pumpkin patches, these cities offer their residents a Halloween experience that’s as unique as it is unforgettable.
Check out how the country’s 35 largest metro areas fare in terms of Halloween fun and thrills:
Methodology
This analysis was done by StorageCafe, an online platform that provides storage unit listings across the nation.
We ranked the country’s largest 35 metro areas for which we had data for their Halloween fun and thrill potential.
To assess local enthusiasm for Halloween, we analyzed Google searches for 6,700 keywords related to Halloween in general (such as Halloween costumes, Halloween store, Halloween decorations, couple Halloween costumes, and so on). We also looked at almost 1,400 keywords that indicate interest in Halloween-related events and activities (for example, pumpkin patches near me, haunted house, haunted stuff near me, haunted activities near me). We analyzed online search volumes between October 2023 and the end of September 2024.
The overall ranking for each metro area was calculated as an average of all the weighted scores based on the metrics presented below:
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