Does “Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat” ring a bell? No doubt, one of many adults’ greatest childhood memories entails dressing up on Halloween and collecting a pillowcase full of candy.
Kids all over the country partake in this one-night event, after weeks of anticipating the moment they can put on their costumes. For many children, Halloween serves to provide a first altruistic experience when they collect donations from the homes they visit on behalf of UNICEF or other charities to help undernourished children.
Since this is an early-evening event, parents tend to walk alongside their kids — especially the younger ones — as they go door to door to ensure they are safe. Along with child safety, many other factors about your town or city can affect the overall Halloween experience.
24/7 Wall St. ranked thousands of towns across the U.S. based on a number of measures related to the trick-or-treating experience. This includes the share of children 14 years old and younger, housing occupancy rates, poverty rates, and the prevalence of crime. We also considered the presence of nearby Halloween-themed businesses — such as costume stores and haunted houses.
Read on to find out out if your town is the best for trick-or-treaters.
Click here to find out which town in each state is the best for trick-or-treating.
Click here to read our detailed findings and methodology.
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1. Alabama
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Helena
> Pop. age 14 and under: 26.1%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 62°F
In Helena, a suburb of Birmingham, 96.6% of housing units are occupied, which should keep trick-or-treaters busy on Halloween. There are plenty of spooky venues to visit in the region, including the Insanitarium Haunted Attraction, Nightmare3008, and Hellbilly Hollow. Helena has been recognized by national media as a desirable small town to raise children, ranking 13th in Business Week’s Best Places to Raise Your Kids in 2007.
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2. Alaska
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Soldotna
> Pop. age 14 and under: 21.0%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 30°F
Halloween merrymakers in Soldotna, also known as Alaska’s Kenai River City, should be well turned out for the holiday because the town’s poverty rate is just 5.2%, almost half the poverty rate statewide. Activities in Soldotna include haunted house at the town’s mall, a teen Halloween dance, and a night-of-the-living-dead costume party.
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3. Arizona
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Gilbert
> Pop. age 14 and under: 26.9%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 71°F
Gilbert, the largest city on the list in population, was ranked as the most prosperous city in the United States, according to the entrepreneur advocacy organization Economic Innovation Group. The ranking was based on seven criteria, including housing vacancy rate, adults not working, and poverty rate. The town’s 230,000 residents will have will have plenty of nearby haunted venues to choose from, including the Sanctum of Horror, the Gauntlet Haunted House, and the Rosson House in Phoenix.
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4. Arkansas
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Centerton
> Pop. age 14 and under: 30.9%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 57°F
Centerton’s poverty rate of 6.2% is less than one-third of the Arkansas statewide rate. Also, more than 97% of the town’s housing units are occupied. Centerton was named one of the safest cities in Arkansas, according to the National Council for Home Safety and Security. Nightmares Haunted House is a big draw in the Benton County, Arkansas, region.
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5. California
> Best town to trick-or-treat: San Ramon
> Pop. age 14 and under: 25.3%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 62°F
San Ramon is located near a venue you don’t see everyday — Ghost Golf, a miniature golf course with a haunted graveyard. Forest Home Farms in San Ramon hosts trick-or-treat at the Farm the Saturday before Halloween, and the local library holds a Halloween Family Storytime event on Halloween. San Ramon was acknowledged as the 12th safest city in California by home security news source Safewise.
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6. Colorado
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Firestone
> Pop. age 14 and under: 29.1%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 49°F
Firestone, Colorado, located about 30 miles north of Denver, has one of the higher percentages of occupied housing units on the list at 98.9%. There are plenty of places for trick-or-treaters to visit in the region, including Fear of the Dark Haunted House and Nightmare City Haunted House.
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7. Connecticut
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Darien
> Pop. age 14 and under: 27.3%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 50°F
Halloween celebrants can feel safe on the streets of this affluent Connecticut town, one of the wealthiest in the U.S. Darien has one of the lowest violent crime rates on the list at 4.5 incidents per 100,000 in population. Every October, Darien hosts the Tokeneke Pumpkin Carnival and holds a Halloween parade.
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8. Delaware
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Middletown
> Pop. age 14 and under: 25.7%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 54°F
Middletown, located in the northern part of Delaware, has grown dramatically in recent years. The affluent suburb is home to commuters to Wilmington, Delaware and Philadelphia. Frightland, which has carnival rides and fear-themed venues such as a haunted barn and horror hay rides, is located near Middletown. Across the border in Maryland is 301 Devils Playground Haunted Houses.
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9. Florida
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Parkland
> Pop. age 14 and under: 25.0%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 78°F
There is a haunted house south of Parkland — part of the Miami metropolitan area — and there are many Halloween-themed stores nearby. Trick-or-treaters will likely be well outfitted since the poverty rate is 3.3%, less than one-fifth of the state’s rate. The town will host a Halloween event in the library on Oct. 26 for children between 3 and 7-years-old.
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10. Georgia
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Holly Springs
> Pop. age 14 and under: 29.1%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 57°F
Holly Springs, a suburb north of Atlanta, routinely ranks among the top on safest city lists. At 99.5%, it has one of the highest shares of occupied housing units. The Paranoia Haunted House is located just north of Holly Springs. To the southwest, Halloween celebrants can venture to the Folklore Haunted House.
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11. Hawaii
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Hickam Housing
> Pop. age 14 and under: 36.6%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 79°F
Hickam Housing in Hawaii has one of the highest shares of children 14 years old and younger of any town on the list at 36.6%, and many of these kids are the children of military families. Fear Beyond Haunts: Night Terrors is the nearest Halloween fright venue for trick-or-treaters.
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12. Idaho
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Meridian
> Pop. age 14 and under: 26.7%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 50°F
More than 1 in 4 Meridian, Idaho, residents are 14-years-old and younger, a far greater share than is typical statewide. In addition to being one of Idaho’s youngest towns, Meridian is also one of the safest. The violent crime rate is less than half the corresponding statewide rate, and Idaho itself is one of the safest states in the country.
The town of Meridian is also home to The Farmstead, a venue boasting a corn maze, pumpkin patch, and — for brave Halloween fanatics — a “Field of Screams.”
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13. Illinois
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Gilberts
> Pop. age 14 and under: 28.1%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 49°F
Gilberts, Illinois, has a rather large share of kids. Some 28.1% of the town’s population are 14 years of age or younger, nearly 10 percentage points greater than the state share of children of 19.4%. Gilberts has an extremely low crime rate of 25.7 incidences per 100,000 residents, far lower than the state rate of 436.3 crimes per every 100,000 residents.
This quaint town of fewer than 7,500 people has two haunted houses within close proximity, Warehouse X Haunted Attraction and Evil Intentions. Perhaps these two places would appeal to an older crowd with scary characters running around and disturbing tales being told, both of which would not be appropriate for younger children.
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14. Indiana
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Fishers
> Pop. age 14 and under: 26.8%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 51°F
Fishers, a town of just over 83,000 people, is home to a good number of little ones with more than 1 in 4 residents aged 14 years or younger. Hamilton, the county Fishers resides in, is full of stores that can prep children — and maybe their parents too — for the occasion. Namely, Monsters RIP Halloween Costume Store in Indianapolis is an option that’s only about 10 minutes away from Fishers by car. There are also an astonishing 20 haunted houses nearby.
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15. Iowa
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Eldridge
> Pop. age 14 and under: 27.8%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 50°F
In Eldridge, a tiny town in Iowa is home to just over 6,000 people, nearly 28% of residents 14-years-old or younger. As far as safety goes for trick-or-treaters, parents shouldn’t have to worry too much as the town’s violent crime rate of 94.5 incidents per every 100,000 people is the 15th lowest of all 118 towns in the state.
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16. Kansas
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Leawood
> Pop. age 14 and under: 22.6%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 55°F
The best town to go trick-or-treating in Kansas is Leawood. With a low violent crime rate of 85.4 incidents reported per every 100,000 residents — much lower than the statewide rate of 380.4 incidences per every 100,000 people — this community makes for a safe place for kids to dress up and collect goodies door-to-door.
Haunted houses are not in abundance in this part of the state. However, there is a well-liked venue roughly 40 minutes away by car in Gardner, Kansas, called Tonybee’s House of Horrors. Expect to run into Skitzo and Stitchez, spooky clowns that run amid the crowd.
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17. Kentucky
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Indian Hills
> Pop. age 14 and under: 19.3%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 55°F
Indian Hills is one of the safest towns to trick-or-treat in, with zero violent crimes reported for every 100,000 people. Not to mention, there are eight haunted houses near the town and even a theme park called Asylum Haunted Scream Park. The park encompasses five spine-tingling attractions, including an immersive haunted house called Zombie City and a chilling performance by Midian the Fire-Breather at the Carnivale of Lost Souls.
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18. Louisiana
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Blanchard
> Pop. age 14 and under: 19.9%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 65°F
Blanchard, a small town in Louisiana’s upper northwest. is the best town to trick-or-treat in the state. Why? Despite the town’s small population — not even 3,000 people inhabit the area — there are five Halloween and novelty stores within close proximity, providing plenty of costume options for the community. The town is also very safe with only 68 violent crimes per every 100,000 residents, compared with the statewide average of 566 per every 100,000.
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19. Maine
> Best town to trick-or-treat: South Portland
> Pop. age 14 and under: 16.0%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 47°F
Of the 25,000 some residents in South Portland, 16.0% are at most 14-years-old. There are two Halloween stores near the town, aptly called Spirit Halloween and Halloween City. Trick-or-treaters may want to plan to wear warmer costumes as the average temperature on Halloween is a brisk 47 degrees Fahrenheit.
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20. Maryland
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Hampstead
> Pop. age 14 and under: 24.6%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 54°F
If you’re in Maryland, Hampstead is the place to be on Halloween. Why? There are nearly 20 haunted houses within close proximity to the small town, and nearly 1 in 4 residents are in prime trick-or-treat age — 14 years and younger. Additionally, parents shouldn’t have to fret as much about their children perusing through the dark neighborhood, simply because the violent crime rate is so low. Only about 31 violent crimes per 100,000 residents are reported a year, which is far less than the statewide rate of 472 per 100,000.
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21. Massachusetts
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Sharon
> Pop. age 14 and under: 26.2%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 50°F
Sharon, Massachusetts, is home to about 25,000 residents, with about 26% of them 14 years of age or younger. Only about 15 miles southwest of downtown Boston, there are 10 stores in and around Sharon that provide a wealth of costumes options.
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22. Michigan
> Best town to trick-or-treat: East Grand Rapids
> Pop. age 14 and under: 25.1%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 49°F
East Grand Rapids is chock-full of Halloween-esque attractions, most notably haunted houses and an amusement park called The Haunt. This 20,000 square foot indoor facility has been inducing fear — and thrill — in western Michigan residents since 2001. With one-quarter of its population kids 14 years and younger, passing out candy to innocent trick-or-treaters should keep residents busy.
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23. Minnesota
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Farmington
> Pop. age 14 and under: 28.3%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 45°F
For some, the costume makes or breaks the Halloween experience. In Farmington, Minnesota there are 10 costume stores within a short radius from the town, so there are plenty of options to construct the perfect outfit for the occasion. With more than 1 and 4 residents in the town 14 years or younger, the trick-or-treat scene is bound to be a popular event. Luckily, the town has minimal violent crimes, with only 43 incidences reported per every 100,000 residents.
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24. Mississippi
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Brandon
> Pop. age 14 and under: 22.1%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 64°F
The average temperature in late October in Brandon, Mississippi — a southern state — is a warm 64 degrees. Trick-or-treaters, and their parents, can wander around their respective neighborhoods with a sense of security. Only 62 violent crimes are reported per every 100,000 residents, the fourth lowest violent crime rate out of all 37 Mississippi towns.
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25. Missouri
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Glendale
> Pop. age 14 and under: 26.6%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 57°F
Glendale, Missouri, is home to fewer than 6,000 people, with over one-quarter of the population 14 years and younger children. Being only a 20 minute car ride away from the big city of St. Louis, Glendale has a myriad of costume stores nearby, 10 to be exact, including Johnnie Brock’s Dungeon, a costume rental warehouse.
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26. Montana
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Laurel
> Pop. age 14 and under: 21.9%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 48°F
Laurel, Montana, is a small town of fewer than 7,000 people. However, Laurel is located just 16 miles away from the largest city in Montana, Billings, which is home to Spirit Halloween Superstore. Trick-or-treaters should be fair warned — the weather drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, something to keep in mind while shopping for a costume.
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27. Nebraska
> Best town to trick-or-treat: La Vista
> Pop. age 14 and under: 22.7%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 50°F
La Vista, Nebraska, is a hotspot for lovers of all things Halloween. Why? There are eight haunted houses within the county. Of the roughly 16,900 people living the town, more than 1 in 5 fall within the range of 14 years or younger, the age group that still participates in trick-or-treating.
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28. Nevada
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Henderson
> Pop. age 14 and under: 18.0%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 65°F
This large town in Nevada has a population of 271,725 people, 18.0% of which are 14 years and younger children, which is nearly 2 percentage points lower than the statewide share of 19.7%. There are two haunted houses nearby. One, Las Vegas Haunts, which Forbes named one of the “Best Haunted Houses in US for Halloween,” is just 20 miles away.
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29. New Hampshire
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Milford
> Pop. age 14 and under: 19.9%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 48°F
Milford is the best town to trick-or-treat in New Hampshire. About 1 in 5 residents are 14 years of age or younger, and there are 16 haunted houses in and around town. Not to mention, the area is pretty safe, too, with about 71 violent crimes reported per every 100,000 people, which the eighth lowest violent crime rate of the 65 towns in New Hampshire. This may be comforting for parents as they send their little ones out in the evening to collect bags full of candy.
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30. New Jersey
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Fair Haven
> Pop. age 14 and under: 26.9%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 54°F
Fair Haven is a great community for young trick-or-treaters to peruse through because the violent crime rate is so low. Only 16 incidents are reported per every 100,000 residents, far less than the statewide rate of 245 violent crimes per every 100,000 residents. The one haunted house in the area, C. Casola Farms Haunted Attractions, features five scary attractions, such as the Haunted Hayride of Terror and the Marlboro Zombie Breakout.
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31. New Mexico
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Rio Rancho
> Pop. age 14 and under: 22.0%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 53°F
Rio Rancho, New Mexico, is home to 91,807 people, with 22% of the population in prime trick-or-treat age — 14 years and younger. There are six haunted houses near the town, including the House of Freakz and Beatz and Dragons House of Horror. Parents will also appreciate the relatively large concentration of dentists of 79 per every 100,000 residents — these dentists will be able to clean their children’s teeth after a night of chewing through one sugary treat after another.
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32. New York
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Rye
> Pop. age 14 and under: 25.5%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 52°F
Rye, New York, is located in Westchester County, just north of New York City, about 15 miles from Tarrytown, where the novel “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’’ was set. One out of every four of the nearly 16,000 town residents is 14 years old and under, and if they load up on sugary treats for Halloween, they will have plenty of dentists to care for their teeth. There are 106 dentists for every 100,000 people in the county, one of the highest concentrations of any area on the list.
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33. North Carolina
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Holly Springs
> Pop. age 14 and under: 27.8%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 61°F
Holly Springs, North Carolina, is west of several Halloween attractions such as the House of Fury in Raleigh and Clayton Fear Farm. Of the 28,640 residents of Holly Springs, nearly 28% of them are children under 14 years old. The town is very safety conscious and recommends that trick-or-treating be held from early evening to 8:30 p.m., be limited to children under age 13, and that teens not wear masks.
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34. North Dakota
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Lincoln
> Pop. age 14 and under: 25.7%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 41°F
Lincoln, North Dakota, a town of just 3,093, registers 100% in housing occupancy. Also, its poverty rate of just 1.8% is one-sixth of the statewide rate. Lincoln is a part of the Bismarck metropolitan area. About 20 miles from Lincoln is Fort Abraham Lincoln, supposedly a place of “paranormal myths and legends’’ that hosts the annual Haunted Fort on Friday and Saturday nights in October.
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35. Ohio
> Best town to trick-or-treat: New Albany
> Pop. age 14 and under: 30.8%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 53°F
In New Albany, Ohio, more than 30% of the 9,136 residents are 14 years old and under, more than 10 percentage points above the state share of children this age. Also, the town’s poverty rate is one-sixth the statewide rate. New Albany is located just northeast of the state capital of Columbus, and among the Halloween diversions in the region are the Scareatorium in Columbus and the Pataskala Haunted Forest in Pataskala, east of Columbus.
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36. Oklahoma
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Piedmont
> Pop. age 14 and under: 25.6%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 59°F
Powered by oil and agriculture, the population of Piedmont, Oklahoma, has doubled to 6,502 since 1990. Prosperity has helped lower the town’s poverty rate to about one-fifth the state rate. The town is located northwest of Oklahoma City and is within its metropolitan area. Oklahoma City’s Halloween attractions include the Haunted Forest and the Sanctuary Haunted Attraction.
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37. Oregon
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Sherwood
> Pop. age 14 and under: 27.7%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 52°F
Sherwood, Oregon, is located in the northwest region of the state, southwest of Portland. The town’s library is planning an Old Town Halloween event on Halloween. At the community meeting room, ghoulish face painting is on the agenda. There are a trove of spooky offerings in Portland, such as Fear Asylum Haunted House, Four Horsemen Haunted Attractions, Witch’s Castle, and Fearlandia.
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38. Pennsylvania
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Franklin Park
> Pop. age 14 and under: 21.6%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 50°F
Franklin Park is located in western Pennsylvania. The town’s poverty rate is just 1.8%, well below the state poverty rate of 13.5%. Franklin Park is located about 13 miles northwest of Pittsburgh so residents are near many Halloween diversions such as Demon House, Freddy’s Haunts, Zombies of the Corn, and Haunted Hills Hayride.
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39. Rhode Island
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Warwick
> Pop. age 14 and under: 15.0%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 52°F
Warwick, Rhode Island, is one of the bigger towns on the list, with 81,855 residents. It also has one of the lowest percentages of children 14 years old at 15% of the population, which is lower than the share of children across the state. Among the options for Halloween revelers can choose from are the Factory of Terror Haunted House and Haunted Labyrinth in nearby Cranston.
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40. South Carolina
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Tega Cay
> Pop. age 14 and under: 23.8%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 62°F
Tega Cay, Polynesian for “beautiful peninsula,’’ will hold on Oct. 21 its annual fall festival that includes a pumpkin patch and costume parade. Tega Cay’s poverty rate of just 1.5% is well below the statewide poverty rate of 17.9%. Near Tega Cay in Fort Mill are several Halloween attractions, including the Campground Massacre and JC’s Frightmare, a haunted house.
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41. South Dakota
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Brandon
> Pop. age 14 and under: 28.7%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 44°F
Brandon, South Dakota, is located 5 miles east of Sioux Falls. And with a population of 9,497 it is Sioux Falls’ largest suburb. An hour’s drive from Brandon, Halloween celebrants can enjoy the Fear Asylum Haunted House in Brookings.
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42. Tennessee
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Nolensville
> Pop. age 14 and under: 29.9%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 59°F
Nolensville, Tennessee, is a suburb located south of Nashville. More than 98% of the housing units in Nolensville are occupied, and the poverty rate is 4.8%, about one-fourth of the statewide rate. Nearly 30% of the small town’s 6,361 residents are under the age of 14, so the town will be full of trick-or-treaters. There are several Halloween party and costume stores around Nolensville.
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43. Texas
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Lavon
> Pop. age 14 and under: 30.7%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 66°F
Lavon, Texas, which is located east of Dallas, has one the lowest poverty rates of any town on the list at 0.9%. To compare, the statewide poverty rate is 17.3%. Lavon also has the smallest population of any town on the list at 2,507. More than 30% of residents are 14 years old and under. There are several Halloween-themed attractions around the north Texas town, including the Haunted Trail of Terror, the Dark Hour Haunted House, and the Crypt.
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44. Utah
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Saratoga Springs
> Pop. age 14 and under: 42.7%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 47°F
Saratoga Springs, Utah, a town of more than 22,000 people, has the highest percentage of children 14 years old and under of any town on the list at 42.7% of the population. The town also has a high percentage of occupied housing units at 97%. There are plenty of Halloween-related diversions near Saratoga Springs, including the Strangling Brothers Utah Haunted Circus, Hee Haw Farms & Corn Maze, and Cornbelly’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Fest.
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45. Vermont
> Best town to trick-or-treat: South Burlington
> Pop. age 14 and under: 15.3%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 46°F
South Burlington, a town of more than 18,000 residents, has a poverty rate of 6.7%, nearly half of the state average. Among the Halloween attractions in the region are the Haunted Forest, which is located east of South Burlington, and Nightmare Vermont, a haunted house venue northeast of the town.
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46. Virginia
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Purcellville
> Pop. age 14 and under: 28.2%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 53°F
Purcelville, Virginia, has one of the highest percentages of occupied housing units on the list at 99%. The northern Virginia town will host a block party event on Oct. 28 featuring games and awarding prizes for the best costume.
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47. Washington
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Snoqualmie
> Pop. age 14 and under: 30.2%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 50°F
Snoqualmie,Washington, has one of the highest percentages of children 14 and under at 30.2% of the population. The town’s poverty rate of 1.8% is well below the statewide rate of 13.3%. There are plenty of spooky options for Halloween revelers nearby, such as the Shadows Haunted House and the Georgetown Morgue Haunted House.
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48. West Virginia
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Bethlehem
> Pop. age 14 and under: 17.5%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 53°F
Bethlehem, one of the smallest towns on the list with 2,589 residents, is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia metropolitan area, in the state’s northern panhandle. There are many Halloween-themed stores where one can buy costumes and party supplies in the town. About 18 miles from Bethlehem in Moundsville, tours are offered at the former West Virginia Penitentiary that feature the Dungeon of Horrors and a Zombie Walk this Halloween season.
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49. Wisconsin
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Belleville
> Pop. age 14 and under: 27.8%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 47°F
Belleville, Wisconsin, is a suburb of the state capital of Madison, and some of the land the village now occupies was owned by statesman Daniel Webster. In Madison, the University of Wisconsin will hold a haunted house to benefit the Second Harvest Foodbank. Other attractions in the region include Chamber of Horrors, Wisconsin Scaryland, Horror in the Dark at Olin Park, and The Haunted Barn.
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50. Wyoming
> Best town to trick-or-treat: Casper
> Pop. age 14 and under: 20.5%
> Avg. temperature on Halloween night: 44°F
Casper, which shares the same name as the friendly ghost cartoon, will host at its ice arena on Oct. 27 a Spooky Skate that will feature a costume contest. There are several costume stores in in the city. At Science Zone, people have the opportunity on Oct. 14 to make jack-o-lanterns out of LED circuits and recycled glass bottles.
Detailed Findings and Methodology
For many trick-or-treaters, Halloween is all about efficiency — that is, obtaining the most candy possible before the night is over. Indeed, knocking on doors of empty homes is counterproductive. Every city and town on this list has a housing occupancy rate higher than the 87.7% comparable rate nationwide. In 49 of the 50 best trick-or-treating towns, fewer than 1 in every 10 homes are vacant.
Americans facing serious financial hardship are less likely to have disposable income available to spend on holidays, including Halloween. In 37 of the 50 towns on this list, the poverty rate is less than half the comparable rate 14.0% rate nationwide. None of the best towns for trick-or-treating have a poverty rate exceeding the comparable U.S. rate.
Halloween is primarily a holiday for young children, and towns with large youth populations are more likely to participate in trick-or-treating. In 32 of the towns on this list, at least one in every four residents are 14 years old or younger. In Saratoga Springs — the best trick-or-treating town in Utah — nearly 43% of the population are 14 and younger, the largest share of any U.S. town.
The safety of a town becomes even more important when many children are running around. As a result, towns with low crime rates are preferable on Halloween night. With one exception — each town on this list for which data is available has a lower violent crime rate than the U.S. rate of 386 incidents for every 100,000 people.
The best towns for trick-or-treating tend to be relatively small. The majority of towns on this list are home to fewer than 15,000 people.
To identify the best town in each state for trick-or-treaters, 24/7 Wall St. created an index using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and the FBI’s 2016 Uniform Crime Report. The index consists of four measures: the poverty rate, housing occupancy rate, violent crime rate, and the share of the population aged 14 and younger. All indexed ACS data are five-year estimates from the most recently available year. Population estimates are for 2016. Only cities and towns with population estimates within a 10% margin of error were considered. Violent crime was not considered for towns in Hawaii due to insufficient data.
When the highest ranking city or town in a given state did not have at least one Halloween-themed business such as a costume store or haunted house within the surrounding county, the next highest ranking town with such establishments ranked as the best. The best town for trick-or-treating in Alaska does not have a haunted house or Halloween store in the surrounding county due to a lack of such businesses throughout the state. The average temperatures on Halloween night were estimated using the average high temperature on October 31st and the low temperature on November 1st from The Weather Channel.
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