Few shows capture the nostalgia of the 1980s quite like Stranger Things. From arcade lights and mall hangouts to mysterious small-town secrets, the series has become a modern classic built on retro charm and curiosity about the unknown.
In celebration of the final season, we wanted to see where that same spirit exists in real life. We analyzed data from 100 U.S. cities using 15 factors tied to the show’s world, including the number of homes built before 1980, arcade ratings, Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasm, and even reported paranormal sightings. The results reveal the places where the Upside Down might not be too far away.
Which U.S. Cities Are Most Like Stranger Things?
From flickering streetlights to basement Dungeons & Dragons sessions, few shows capture small-town mystery quite like Stranger Things. To find out which U.S. cities feel the most like Hawkins, Indiana, we analyzed 15 factors connected to the show’s 1980s setting and supernatural themes. Our analysis included data on everything from homes built before 1980 and arcade density to search interest in “Dungeons and Dragons” and reported paranormal sightings.
Here’s a look at the 10 cities that topped our ranking for the most Stranger Things-like vibes across the country.
The Top 5 Cities Most Like Stranger Things:
- Colorado Springs, CO — 61.6 out of 100
With nearly 19 haunted houses per 100K households and about 12 cabins per 10K residents, Colorado Springs feels like it was built for eerie encounters and forest chases straight out of the Upside Down. Its proximity to mountain ranges and open landscapes only adds to that atmosphere, making it an easy fit for the top spot.
- Little Rock, AR — 59.3
Little Rock’s thriving Dungeons & Dragons community—about 143 members per 10K people, the highest in the study—proves the city’s love of imagination and storytelling is alive and well. Add in one of the country’s highest densities of arcades (4 per 100K people), and it’s easy to picture Mike and Will rolling dice before heading out to play Pac-Man.
- Portland, OR — 59.1
Cabin life and fantasy gaming define Portland’s Stranger Things appeal. With roughly 15 cabins per 100K residents, the most of any city we analyzed, and strong local search interest for “Dungeons and Dragons” on Google, Portland combines cozy, woodsy nostalgia with creative, slightly mysterious charm.
- Knoxville, TN — 58.2
Knoxville stands out for its curiosity about the unknown. The city reports nearly 19 paranormal sightings per 100K residents, among the highest in the study, and shows consistently high local search interest for “Stranger Things.” That fascination with the eerie helps Knoxville capture the same small-town mystique that defines Hawkins.
- Indianapolis, IN — 57.8
Indiana’s capital earns extra credit for being located in the same state as Hawkins itself, but that’s not the only reason it lands near the top. The state has one of the nation’s highest percentages of unsolved cases (43%), adding a touch of real-life mystery that would fit right into the show’s universe.
Regional snapshot: The top five cities stretch across the country, but what they share is a balance of nostalgia and mystery. The combination of pre-1980 architecture, retro hangouts, and interest in fantasy games helps them stand out as modern-day versions of Hawkins.
Rounding Out the Top 10:
- Rochester, NY — 57.7
- Spokane, WA — 57.2
- Harrisburg, PA — 53.5
- Seattle, WA — 53.5
- Denver, CO — 53.5
Rochester stands out for its older neighborhoods, with more than 80% of homes built before 1980, creating a backdrop that could easily pass for Hawkins’ quiet streets. In the Pacific Northwest, Spokane shows the country’s highest search interest for “Dungeons and Dragons,” while nearby Seattle keeps the arcade scene alive with an average rating of 4.1 stars, among the best in the U.S.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, channels its inner Starcourt Mall with an impressive 18.2 malls per 100K residents, the most of any city studied. And Denver rounds out the list with strong community spirit, home to Dungeons & Dragons meetup groups averaging 4.9 out of 5 stars — the highest-rated groups in the study.
Together, these cities show how different regions bring the Stranger Things spirit to life. From East Coast neighborhoods that could’ve thrived in the 80s to West Coast communities that celebrate imagination and play, there’s a bit of Hawkin, Indiana everywhere you look.
Next, we’ll take a closer look at which cities performed best in specific categories — from Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasm to paranormal activity — to uncover where the Upside Down feels closest to home.
Where the Upside Down Feels Closest to Home
Our ranking revealed which cities feel most like Stranger Things overall, but some places stood out for excelling in specific categories tied to the show’s 1980s charm and supernatural themes. From vintage neighborhoods and eerie encounters to high scores at the arcade, these cities topped the charts for the most distinctive Stranger Things qualities.
Here’s a look at the top city for 10 key factors from our study:
Homes Built Before 1980 – Hartford, CT (91.6%)
National average: 47.9%
Hartford’s historic homes give the city a distinctly nostalgic feel. Tree-lined streets and aging architecture that could easily double for Hawkins’ quiet suburbs.
Cabins per 100K People – Portland, OR (14.7)
National average: 3.2
Surrounded by forests and scenic getaways, Portland offers no shortage of cabin retreats. You can almost see Hopper and Eleven sharing waffles out in the Portland woods.
Paranormal Sightings per 100K People – Lakeland, FL (43.5)
National average: 8.5
Lakeland reports paranormal sightings at more than five times the national rate. Between swampy landscapes and old Southern charm, it’s not hard to see how ghost stories take root there.
Dungeons & Dragons Players per 10K – Little Rock, AR (143.5)
National average: 21.5
Little Rock’s thriving D&D community proves that collaborative storytelling isn’t just for the kids of Hawkins. It’s alive and well in the heart of Arkansas.
DnD Group Rating – Miami, FL (5.0)
National average: 4.8
Miami may not be the first place that comes to mind for fantasy gaming, but its D&D groups score a perfect five stars. The city’s creativity and social energy seem to extend beyond the beaches.
Malls per 100K People – Harrisburg, PA (18.2)
National average: 3.0
Harrisburg embraces full mall heyday nostalgia with more malls per capita than any other city studied. A true throwback to the shopping-center era that defined the ‘80s.
Average Arcade Rating – Stockton, CA (4.4)
National average: 3.7
Stockton keeps retro gaming alive, with local arcades earning top marks nationwide. For fans of neon lights and joystick battles, it’s a gamer’s paradise.
Search Interest for “Stranger Things” – Salt Lake City, UT (98.0)
National average: 72.4
Utah’s capital shows the strongest interest in the Netflix hit, suggesting local fans are more tuned into Hawkins’ latest mysteries than anywhere else in the country.
Search Interest for “Dungeons and Dragons” – Spokane, WA (80.0)
National average: 44.5
Spokane leads the nation in curiosity about D&D, further cementing the Pacific Northwest’s reputation as a hub for imagination and adventure. If it were set today, you can bet Dusty would’ve been like people in Spokane searching up and down for the latest in D&D news.
Search Interest for “Waffles” – Minneapolis, MN (77.0)
National average: 56.8
Eleven would fit right in here. Minneapolis’s love of waffles tops the charts, adding a lighthearted touch to the city’s Stranger Things credentials.
These top performers reflect how different corners of the U.S. embody pieces of Hawkins, whether through decades-old homes, eerie folklore, or a simple appreciation for breakfast foods.
Next, we’ll share the full data set behind our analysis, detailing all 15 ranking factors that shaped our Stranger Things-inspired index.
Explore the Full Stranger Things City Index
Curious to see how your city compares when it comes to Dungeons & Dragons players, haunted houses, or ‘80s-style nostalgia?
We’ve compiled the full results from our Stranger Things study so you can dig into the data yourself. Search for your city directly, sort by any column heading, or browse through all 100 cities to see how they scored across the 15 factors we analyzed.
Take a look below to find out where your hometown lands on the Stranger Things scale, and whether the Upside Down might be closer than you think.
Closing Thoughts
From haunted houses and retro malls to a national love of Dungeons & Dragons, our Stranger Things index highlights the cities that capture the show’s nostalgia and sense of adventure. Whether through 1980s neighborhoods or thriving gaming communities, these places remind us that a little curiosity (and maybe a touch of mystery) can make any town feel like Hawkins.
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Methodology
To determine the cities that are most like Stranger Things, we evaluated the 100 largest cities in the U.S. on 15 ranking factors that are related to the hit Netflix TV show.
The factors were weighted based on how closely they relate to the show. Based on these weights, the factors we considered were given scores from zero to five and summed to reach a total score of zero to 100, with 100 representing a perfect score.
For a full list of ranking factors and where the data for them came from, check out the table below.
| Ranking Factor | Source | Weight |
| % of Homes Built Before 1980 | Redfin | 2.0 |
| No. of Cabins per 100K People | Airbnb | 1.5 |
| Haunted Houses per 100K Households | House Creep | 0.5 |
| Paranormal Sightings per 100K People | Ghosts of America | 1.0 |
| % of Unsolved Murder Cases | Project Cold Case | 1.0 |
| DnD Meetup Coefficient | Meetup | 1.0 |
| DnD Players per 10K | Meetup | 1.0 |
| DnD Group Rating | Meetup | 1.0 |
| No. of Arcades per 100K | Yelp | 2.0 |
| No. of Malls per 100K | Scrape Hero | 2.0 |
| Film Locations | IMDb | 1.0 |
| Search Interest for Stranger Things | Google Trends | 1.0 |
| Search Interest for DnD | Google Trends | 2.0 |
| Search Interest for Waffles | Google Trends | 1.0 |
| Avg. Arcade Rating | Yelp | 2.0 |
Fair Use
You are welcome to use, reference, and share non-commercial excerpts of this study with proper attribution. If you cite or cover our findings, please link back to this page so readers can view the full methodology, charts, and context.
