Michigan Among the Most Haunted States in America

Have you ever heard something go bump in the night? Or seen something spooky you just can’t explain? With Halloween around the corner, thrill-seekers and ghost hunters alike are on the lookout for eerie encounters.

Well, according to a new ranking, Michigan is one of the most haunted places in America—and it’s getting spookier.

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A few years ago, a different report ranked the Mitten State as the fourth most haunted in the U.S. But now? We’ve climbed even higher. A new study from MoveBuddha puts Michigan near the very top for paranormal activity and eerie encounters.

How MoveBuddha Ranked America’s Most Haunted States

To find the most haunted states in the country, MoveBuddha came up with a “Spook Score,” blending together a range of bone-chilling data. They looked at the number of haunted places, cemeteries, and ghost towns per capita, plus how old each state’s earliest settlements and burial grounds are.

Then they added two more factors: a “Creep Score” (based on unsolved murders and abandoned buildings) and a “Boo Score” (for ghost sightings and ghost towns). The result? A definitive list of where the supernatural seems closest to home.

The Most Haunted State in America: New Mexico

Before we reveal where Michigan lands, let’s talk about who took the crown. According to MoveBuddha, New Mexico ranks as the most haunted state in the nation—and with good reason.

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It’s home to Acoma Pueblo, believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited place in the Western Hemisphere, making it a hotspot for spirits of the past. The Land of Enchantment earned a Spook Score of 8.3, a Creep Score of 7.5, and a Boo Score of 7.4, for a final spine-tingling score of 10 out of 10.

Michigan Ranks No. 2 for Haunted Happenings

Right behind New Mexico is Michigan, taking the title of America’s second most haunted state. Here's a breakdown of Michigan's fright factor:

• Spook score: 6.2
• Creep score: 9.3
• Boo score 6.1
• Final score: 9.31

What Makes Michigan So Haunted?

Our history is filled with chilling events, from bloody battles at Fort Wayne and the River Raisin National Battlefield, to tragedies like the Bath School massacre, and the unsettling past of Eloise Asylum and Marquette’s Old City Orphanage.

Then there’s the Great Lakes — a watery grave for countless shipwrecks. Lighthouses like Seul Choix Point, Old Presque Isle, and White River Light Station are famous for their ghostly legends of lost sailors and restless keepers.

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Michigan also has a wealthy of folk legends and urban myths that amp up its haunted reputation, like the Ada Witch, Ghosts of the Tressle Bridge, Detroit's Horrible Hag, the Michigan Dogman, and the Allegan County Mellonheads.

Here's what MoveBuddha says about Michigan:

With a past like that, it’s no wonder Michigan is near the top of America’s haunted list.

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The Top 10 Most Haunted States in America

1. New Mexico
2. Michigan
3. West Virginia
4. Florida
5. Pennsylvania
6. Alaska
7. Oklahoma
8. Indiana
9. Texas
10. Missouri