
Thanks to platforms like Instagram, intricately designed Halloween costumes now gain viral fame long after the festivities. For those who judge their Halloween success by Instagram likes, the holiday retailer Halloween Express has created a map showcasing the most-liked costumes from the past four years.
The eerie data was gathered by analyzing posts from 2012 to 2015 tagged with #halloween and identifying costume mentions in captions. The most popular costumes are now sorted by state, allowing you to compare your region's trends with the rest of the nation on October 31.
Some timeless costumes, like ghosts, zombies, skeletons, and cats, appear every year. Others mirror pop culture shifts: Marvel superheroes dominated California in 2014, while Star Wars characters are gaining traction this Halloween. Interestingly, E.T. has consistently remained a top-liked costume annually, even though it originates from a 33-year-old movie.
Some quirky costumes make a brief appearance in one state before disappearing the following year. In Massachusetts during Halloween 2014, Where’s Waldo? saw unexpected popularity, while narwhals had a surprising moment in Utah back in 2012. To showcase the most popular costumes from each state, we’ve curated a collection of this year’s spookiest, funniest, and most charming #halloween posts from Instagram.
1. GHOUL
The ghoul costume claimed the number one spot in North Carolina.
2. ARTIST
This year, the artist costume is the most-liked in both Wisconsin and Connecticut.
3. CAT
This timeless costume secured the top position in New Hampshire.
4. ELF
Elf outfits are the top choice for Iowa residents this Halloween season.
5. WONDER WOMAN
Wonder Woman is a particularly favored costume in Nevada this year.
6. E.T.
E.T. has emerged as the most popular costume in seven states this year, including Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, New Mexico, Mississippi, and New Jersey.
7. CORPSE BRIDE
The Corpse Bride costume is the leading choice in Colorado.
8. DEADPOOL
This year, the majority of Georgians are choosing to dress up as this trending Marvel character.
9. GHOST
Maryland residents prove that classic costumes never go out of style.
10. HARRY POTTER
Harry Potter outfits remain a popular choice in Oklahoma.
11. FOOTBALL PLAYER
Despite lacking an NFL team, Utah sees plenty of football player costumes during Halloween.
12. THE FLASH
This speedy superhero costume is a hit in Hawaii.
13. FRANKENSTEIN
This iconic costume claims the top spot in Arizona.
14. GOTH
A significant number of Pennsylvanians are embracing the goth aesthetic this Halloween.
15. MONSTER
Monster costumes dominate in Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
16. MERMAID
Mermaid outfits are the top choice in South Carolina this year.
17. PUPPY
Puppy costumes will be easy to find in Oregon, Washington, and Ohio this Halloween.
18. PUNK
Michigan residents are embracing their inner punk rocker this Halloween.
19. SCARECROW
Scarecrow costumes are currently the most popular in Maine for 2015.
20. GHOSTFACE
This iconic movie villain is the top costume pick in Rhode Island.
21. WITCH
Witch costumes are the most-liked in Alabama, Nebraska, and North Dakota this year.
22. SPIDER-MAN
Spider-Man is the favorite costume in his home state of New York.
23. STAR WARS
Even though the new movie releases in December, residents of Kansas, Massachusetts, and Florida are already embracing their inner Star Wars fan for Halloween.
24. WIZARD
Wizard costumes are the top choice in Texas for 2015.
25. SKELETON
Kentucky residents are showcasing their eeriest skeleton costumes this year.
26. WEREWOLF
Keep an eye out for werewolves in Louisiana on Halloween night.