Virginia City, Nevada Named America's Most Haunted Town

Virginia City, Nevada, a town of approximately 855 residents, has been named the most haunted city in America by Vivint's 2026 Spookiness Index. The ranking assessed 74 cities based on factors including reported ghost sightings, haunted places, haunted house attractions, psychic and spiritual businesses, funeral services, and Google searches related to the paranormal.

Virginia City's high ranking is attributed to its substantial number of reported ghost sightings and haunted locations per capita. The town recorded approximately 10,870 spooky Google searches per 10,000 residents and around 124 haunted house attraction listings for the same population.

Tombstone, Arizona, secured the second spot, followed by Eureka Springs, Arkansas, in third. Other cities that ranked highly include Galena, Illinois; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; and Cape May, New Jersey.

New York City ranked 68th out of 74 cities, making it the seventh-least frightening city. Despite logging more reported ghost sightings than other New York cities studied, it lagged in per capita spooky searches and the concentration of spiritual businesses. Amityville, New York, however, placed 13th nationally, largely due to its density of haunted house attractions and psychic businesses, despite having few reported ghost sightings or haunted places.

The infamous Amityville house at 112 Ocean Avenue, site of the 1974 DeFeo murders and subsequent events that inspired a book and film, has seen its value decrease over the years due to its notoriety. The address was changed to 108, and its distinctive architectural features were altered to deter onlookers.

Virginia City's history as a Comstock Lode boomtown contributes to its spooky reputation. The Silver Queen Hotel, built in 1876, is said to be haunted by a prostitute named Rosie. The town also features the Suicide Table at the Delta Saloon, a Faro bank table blamed for the deaths of three owners, and the Bucket of Blood Saloon, named for supposed blood-soaked sawdust from nightly altercations.

In Tombstone, Arizona, the site of the 1881 Earp-Clanton shootout, the corral is said to be haunted by the cowboys who died there. The Bird Cage Theatre in Tombstone is also reputed to have 31 resident ghosts.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas, features the Crescent Hotel and Spa, which was formerly a cancer hospital run by Norman Baker. Guests often report paranormal activity in rooms associated with a stonemason who died during construction and a woman named Theodora.

Cape May, New Jersey, known for its Victorian architecture, also has a rich history of ghost stories, many linked to the Great Fire of 1878. Attractions like the Emlen Physick Estate and the Hotel Macomber are reportedly sites of paranormal encounters. The Cape May Lighthouse is said to be haunted by a Lady in White.

Santa Fe, New Mexico, was ranked as the least haunted city in the study.