The Best U.S. Cities For Trick-or-Treating

“You’re telling me there’s a day where I get to dress up in costume, roam the streets, and people just give me candy?”
~ The first time any kid anywhere hears about Halloween (probably).

In a celebration of the spookiest time of year, we wanted to do a study for the kids on trick-or-treating. Specifically, we set out to find out where in the U.S. trick-or-treaters are best set-up for a successful night.

We ranked cities based on factors that would be most important to trick-or-treaters, like children populations, candy stores, walkability, elevation change, suburbanization, and much more to discover where children are most likely to hit the jackpot this year.

So, grab your costume (and candy pail) and get ready—let’s explore the top cities where trick-or-treating is sure to be a scream!

The 15 Best U.S. Cities for Trick-or-Treating

To begin our study on trick-or-treating hotspots, we’re going to highlight the parts of the country where trick-or-treaters are best set up for a successful night and full candy bags.

Our analysis considered factors like candy stores, walkability, and neighborhood density—essentials for a fun and safe trick-or-treating experience. Whether it’s the sheer number of candy stores or easier-to-navigate streets, these cities have the ingredients for an unforgettable Halloween night.

Here’s how and why the top cities stacked up:

1. Boston, MA - 66.77 out of 100

• 5,918 households per square mile
• Average yard size of 0.24 acres
• 14.6 candy stores per 100K kids

Despite the dense, bustling environment of the Boston area, its comparatively large yards provide space for some great Halloween decorations that trick-or-treaters will enjoy on their way up to the door. More than 14 candy stores per capita also mean houses should be well-stocked for the witches and ghosts that darken their doorways on Halloween night.

2. Buffalo, NY - 66.39

• 7.7 Spirit Halloween locations per 100K kids
• Average annual candy spend of $200
• 106 ft. of elevation range in the city

Nearly 8 Spirit Halloween locations per 100K kids and an annual candy spend of $200 in the region show a clear commitment to Halloween fun for residents in Buffalo. Beyond that, the relatively flat topography of the city means trekking from house to house won’t be too much for the little monsters begging for candy.

3. Hartford, CT - 64.10

• Average yard size of 0.22 acres
• 10% of the metro population lives within the city
• Average annual candy spend of $200

Ample yard size for spooky season decor, a very large portion of the population living in suburban areas outside of the city, and plenty of candy spending make Hartford a standout city for trick-or-treaters.

4. Boise, ID - 63.84

• 13.4% of the population is between 5 and 14 years old
• Walk score of 93 out of 100
• 6.4 Spirit Halloween stores per 100K kids

A large population of trick-or-treating age kids, a very walkable environment so getting from house to house is a breeze, and plenty of Spirit Halloween locations to find the perfect costume set Boise apart as a trick-or-treaters paradise.

5. Pittsburgh, PA - 62.99

• 12% of the metro population lives within the city
• 16.3 candy stores per 100K kids
• 29 standout neighborhoods per 100K people

Pittsburgh rounds out the top five thanks to its large population that lives in areas outside of the city center, its abundance of candy stores, and its plethora of well-rated neighborhoods for kids to explore while trick-or-treating.

Whether they provide a walkable, flat environment giving kids an easier time getting around, more tightly clustered houses outside of a city center, or more candy stores and Spirit Halloween locations, these cities are the king-sized candy bars of the trick-or-treating world.

Now that we’ve explored where trick-or-treating is at its best, let’s take a look at the cities where families might face a few more challenges in making Halloween as magical as it can be.

15 Cities That Make Trick-or-Treating More Difficult

While some cities offer a dream scenario for trick-or-treaters, others present a few more challenges for families looking to make the most of Halloween night. Whether it’s fewer candy stores, less walkable neighborhoods, or low household density, these factors can make it just a bit tougher for kids to fill their bags with treats.

Here are the cities that fared the worst in our ranking and why:

1. Fort Myers, FL - 30.98 out of 100

• 9.4% of the population is between 5 and 14 years old
• 19% of households have people under 18 who live in them
• 0 standout neighborhoods

With less than 10% of its population being of trick-or-treating age and less than 20% of households having people under 18 living in them, the demographic makeup of Fort Myers makes it the least-ideal environment for trick-or-treaters in the U.S.

2. Augusta, GA - 32.65

• 2.8 candy stores per 100K kids
• 246 households per square mile
• 0 standout neighborhoods

Very few candy stores compared to the child population, zero nationally-ranked standout neighborhoods, and the lightest household density in the study make Augusta a city that prospective trick-or-treaters might have a hard time having fun in.

3. Albuquerque, NM - 33.50

• Walk score of 43 out of 100
• 61% of the metro population lives within the city
• 925 ft. of elevation range in the city

Over 60% of Albuquerque’s metro population lives within its city limits, meaning the urban environment makes it tough for trick-or-treaters to find participating households. Additionally it has a very poor walk score and a striking elevation range making trick-or-treating an uphill battle—literally.

4. Austin, TX - 35.79

• 9.8% of the population is between 5 and 14 years old
• Average annual candy spend of $175
• Average yard size of 0.11 acres

Austin’s relatively low population of kids between 5 and 14 and its annual candy spend of just $175 for the region suggest that Halloween night may not always be the best for kids. The average yard size is also very small compared to other cities in the study, meaning less room for spooky decorations for trick-or-treaters to enjoy.

5. Daytona Beach, FL - 37.30

• 582 households per square mile
• 1.5 Spirit Halloween stores per 100K kids
• Average annual candy spend of $175

Rounding out the bottom five in our ranking is Daytona Beach thanks largely to its relatively light household density, very few Halloween Spirit locations, and low regional candy spend. Far apart houses, few places to get costumes and decor, and cheapskates when it comes to candy turn Daytona Beach from a trick-or-treaters dream into a nightmare.

These cities could still be full of Halloween spirit, but trick-or-treaters (and their parents) would likely need to put a bit more planning and effort into ensuring a successful night and full sacks of candy.

What Makes a City Great for Trick-or-Treating?

Curious to see how your city ranks when it comes to providing the best possible environment for kids to have fun on Halloween night? We’ve compiled all the data we analyzed into an interactive table so you can explore the factors that make a city great for trick-or-treating.

From candy stores to walk scores, you can sort through each factor individually or search for your city by name to see how it stacks up against the rest.

Closing Thoughts

At the end of the night, any city where kids are out having fun, getting an incredible sugar rush from collecting candy, and making memories is a great place to trick-or-treat. But as our study shows, some cities are better equipped to make Halloween night even more special (or at the very least easier), with plenty of candy stores, outstanding neighborhoods, and lively communities that really embrace the spirit of the season.

No matter where you’re celebrating, Halloween is all about enjoying time with your family and creating lasting traditions. At Chicco, we’re here to help you make those moments as safe, comfortable, and fun as possible—whether you’re preparing for a night of trick-or-treating or any other adventure with your little ones. Shop our collection of car seats and strollers today.

Methodology

To determine the best U.S. cities for trick-or-treating we evaluated the 100 largest cities in the U.S. on 13 different ranking factors that would impact trick-or-treaters this Halloween.

The factors were weighted based on their importance to trick-or-treaters. Based on these weights, the individual factors were given scores from 0 to 5 and summed to reach a total score of 0 to 100 with 100 representing the most favorable conditions. For a full list of data points and sources considered, see the table below.