True crime podcasts have become a staple part of the entertainment rotation for millions of consumers. From gripping murder mysteries you can’t believe to unsolved cases that still leave us scratching our heads, the genre continues to captivate audiences across the country.
Knowing how many true crime pods are out there, and how much content tastes can change regionally, we set out to discover which true crime podcasts are the most popular in every state. Using Google Trends data from the past 12 months, we analyzed search interest to determine which podcast each state is searching for most frequently.
But we didn’t stop there. Knowing how people love hearing about stories they have a connection point to, we also dove into some true crime podcast episode descriptions to see how often they mention different states as the setting for the crimes they cover, revealing which places are featured most often in these chilling tales.
Keep reading to find out the most popular true-crime podcast in your state, how often it’s the setting for an episode, and some insight into how podcasters can leverage regionality to try to expand their reach.
What’s The Most Popular True Crime Podcast in Your State?
Whether it’s the suspense, the twists, or the real-life local mysteries that keep us on the edge of our seats, true crime podcasts have a way of pulling listeners in and keeping them interested for hundreds of episodes at a time.
But which shows have recently been occupying the earbuds of people where you live? We analyzed Google Trends search data to find out which true crime pods were searched most regularly in each state over the past year to find out.
Here are the top-searched true crime podcasts across the U.S. and the states where they’re most popular according to recent search trends.
The Prosecutors
- A podcast where two former prosecutors attempt to use their legal backgrounds to offer unique takes on famous real-life mysteries, The Prosecutors is the top-searched podcast in eight states making it the most popular in our study, particularly in the South.
- Most popular in: Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia
Last Podcast On The Left
- Known for its blend of horror exploration, true crime examination, and dark humor, Last Podcast on the Left comes in as the second-most popular true crime pod in our study. It’s a regional hit in the Northeast where listeners may enjoy the mix of grim tales and comic relief, and comes out on top in seven states overall.
- Most popular in: Illinois, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, D.C.
Crime Junkie
- Unlike some other podcasts in our list, Crime Junkie doesn’t seem to have a strong regional base—its popularity is spread across the U.S. and comes out on top in six states. Since 2017, hosts Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat have prided themselves on covering cases in a straightforward, relatable way that clearly resonates with its listeners everywhere.
- Most popular in: Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, North Dakota, and Oklahoma
Rotten Mango
- A big hit in the West, Rotten Mango is a true crime podcast that puts a premium on storytelling. By focusing on lesser-known, international stories, it brings a fresh feel to the true crime genre and provides listeners with something they might not get anywhere else. The fresh take on true crime podcasting makes it the most popular in five states, particularly in the West.
- Most popular in: California, Connecticut, Nevada, New York, and Texas
My Favorite Murder
- Since 2016, Karen and Georgia have been blending true crime storytelling and comedy in a way that few other shows can. My Favorite Murder is one of the pioneers that brought the true crime genre mainstream and the show remains incredibly popular even eight years after it first launched. It’s the top-searched true crime pod in three states.
- Most popular in: Delaware, Montana, and Nebraska.
Podcast preferences vary by region, with certain true crime shows dominating in specific parts of the country. Whether it’s a deeper dive into the courtroom with The Prosecutors or the quirky mix of horror and humor in Last Podcast On The Left, listeners’ tastes seem to reflect both local cultures and nationwide trends.
Next, we’ll take a closer look into the states that are featured most often as settings in true crime podcasts. Which places are the go-to locations for podcasters telling suspenseful tales of mystery?
Which States Are the Most Common Settings For True Crime Podcast Episodes?
From the chilling narratives to the excitement of trying to solve a real-life whodunnit, true crime podcasts can grip listeners for a million different reasons. One factor that might be overlooked is the location the stories are set in.
We’re going to continue with our exploration into the relationship between regional interest and podcasting by finding out the states that are most often mentioned as the setting for true crime podcasts. We analyzed nearly 4,000 episode descriptions from 10 of the popular true crime pods in our study, counting the number of times each state was mentioned in the description of the episodes.
Here are the states that came up most frequently in our analysis:
- Florida
- With a notorious reputation for wild stories, it’s no surprise that Florida tops the list serving as the setting in 8.9% of the podcast episodes we analyzed. Well-known true crime stories coming out of Florida include the crimes of Ted Bundy and the events based around Tiger King.
- Texas
- They say everything’s bigger in Texas and it seems that could be the case for true crime headlines, as it finishes second and was mentioned in 6.6% of the episodes we analyzed. Examples of Texas true crime include the Waco Siege and Amber Hagerman’s kidnapping and murder (the reason we have the Amber Alert).
- California
- With an even 6% of episodes set in the Golden State, California’s mix of urban and suburban crimes makes it a regular feature in true crime storytelling. The story of the Golden State Killer is one of the tales that kicked off the popular podcast, My Favorite Murder.
- New York
- From gritty downtown crime to upstate mysteries, New York is often featured as the setting in true crime stories appearing in 5.6% of the episodes we looked at. Popular true crime stories coming out of the Empire State include Son of Sam (who was recently denied parole) and the Long Island Serial Killer.
- Indiana
- Rounding out the top five, Indiana appeared in 5% of episodes, a surprising entry that shows just how much interest exists in Midwest crime stories. A recent example being the events surrounding the Delphi Murders.
While more populous states tend to get more attention due to the sheer number of incidents, we also adjusted the data to account for population. By looking at the number of mentions per 1 million residents, some smaller states emerge as true crime hotspots:
- Alaska
- The rugged landscape, remote communities, and general enigmatic aura of Alaska make it a perfect backdrop for chilling stories that stick with you. It has the most mentions in true crime podcasts with 30 episodes per 1 million people. The killings of Israel Keyes are one true crime story with ties to Alaska.
- Maine
- The small towns that make up Maine lend themselves to a good true crime setting so the Pine Tree State featuring in 17 episodes per 1 million people makes sense. Famed horror author Stephen King set many of his novels in the area, further illustrating the point that the state can lend itself to a chilling story.
- Idaho
- With 8 episodes per 1 million people, another sparsely populated state with stories to tell that people might not have heard before, Idaho finishes third in this category. The ongoing story surrounding the murders at the University of Idaho are a recent example of a true crime story in the area that garnered national attention.
- Washington, D.C.
- The nation’s capital saw 7 episodes per 1 million people. Its rich political history likely adds an extra layer of intrigue to the true crime tales coming from the area. Well-known stories in the area include those of the Beltway Snipers and the Freeway Phantom.
- New Mexico
- Rounding out the top five with 6 episodes per 1 million people, New Mexico’s unique landscape and cultural history provide an engaging setting for true crime storytelling. Local true crime stories that made national headlines out of New Mexico include the West Mesa Murders and bowling alley massacre in Las Cruces.
True crime stories happen all over the U.S., and while more populous states are mentioned more frequently than others it isn’t by a particularly wide margin. Regional representation in the genre seems to be fairly strong and can make people more interested in the stories being told.
What Does This Mean for Podcasters?
Finding connection points with your audience is crucial to driving new listeners to your podcast and keeping them interested in your new content. One way true crime podcasters can leverage that connection is by leaning into the regional relevance of the stories they share.
Edison Research recently found that 45% of listeners who consume true crime stories on other platforms say they’d be “very likely” to listen to a podcast if it focused on their local area or region. Despite the connection between regional storytelling and true crime podcast interest, only 19.1% of the nearly 4,000 podcast episodes we analyzed mentioned a state by name in their descriptions.
We see the relationship between regional stories and popularity play out in the data we collected, as well. For example, in states like Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington, D.C., the most popular true crime podcast is also the one that mentions the state most frequently in its episode descriptions. This shows how typing a story to a specific location can resonate with listeners.
Key Takeaway:
True crime podcasters could benefit from including more regional notes in their episode descriptions. Whether it’s focusing extra content on local mysteries or just making sure to mention the location of the crime in episode descriptions, small adjustments might draw in listeners who are eager to hear stories that take place in their own backyard.
Closing Thoughts
True crime podcasts continue to captivate audiences across the country. From the South’s interest in The Prosecutors to the West’s infatuation with Rotten Mango, there are some clear regional preferences when it comes to which ones have recently piqued the interest of Americans.
Based on recent research and shining through in parts of our study, leaning into the regionality of a story can be a powerful tool for keeping audiences engaged. For podcasters, this represents an opportunity. By ensuring your audience knows where a story takes place, creators can attract new listeners and build stronger connections with their audience.
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Methodology
To determine the most popular true crime podcast in every state, we compiled a list of more than 70 podcasts in the genre listed as the top-charting on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. We then analyzed the regional interest of each podcast using Google Trends search interest over the past 12 months. We compared the search interest for each podcast head-to-head to find the most popular one in every state. Search interest was used as an indicator of popularity for this study.
We then pulled episode descriptions of each podcast that was the most popular in more than one state in our study (10 in total). In all, we analyzed nearly 4,000 episode descriptions and determined which states are mentioned by name in the most true crime podcast episodes.
