How many people believe in ghosts or dead spirits?

Ashley May | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption The most haunted places in the U.S. you can visit Be the star of a real-life ghost story by visiting some of these haunted locations!

You'll probably see a ghost this month. Whether it's real or not, is up for debate.

Sure, "ghosts" come to life around Halloween, but what about the undead, the supernatural, spirits? Are they real? Are they spooky? Are they haunting the house down the street?

A HuffPost/YouGov poll of 1,000 people suggests about 45% think so. Those are people who said they believe that ghosts or spirits of the dead can come back in certain places and situations, according to the 2012 data. Some 32% also said ghosts or spirits can hurt living people, while 43% said ghosts (if they are real) are harmless. Casper, is that you?

In fact, a recent survey by Realtor.com suggested about 30% are open to living in a haunted house. Still, 42% said they would never consider it.

More: Haunted hotels: Here's how much it costs to stay in one

More: 5 Halloween myths and urban legends, debunked

More: These are the most popular Halloween costumes for kids and adults for 2017

A survey by Pew Research Center in 2009 suggested a smaller number of people believe in ghosts. About 29% of Americans told Pew in 2009 they have felt in touch with a dead person, 18% specifically saying they’ve been in the presence of a ghost. Still, that's significant considering in 1996 only 9% reported interacting with a ghost.

Widening the scope to the supernatural, 65% of Americans told Pew they believe in the supernatural — reincarnation, spiritual energy, yoga as spiritual practice, the “evil eye,” astrology, connecting with the dead, consulting a psychic or experiencing a ghostly encounter. And 49% say they've had "a religious or mystical experience."

Significantly more people reported believing in God (65%) than ghosts, according to Pew's Religious Landscape Study.

Interestingly, a YouGov UK survey reported the opposite — that British people are more likely to believe in ghosts than a creator.

Maybe pack a ghost-away spray on your next European trip?

Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets