Ranking the Best States for Trick-or-Treating This Halloween
Costumes on, pumpkin pails at the ready, walking shoes tied. It’s Halloween, and you’re ready to walk the neighborhood.
Spooky season is here, and trick-or-treating is one of the most iconic moments of Halloween for kids. Last year, we found the best U.S. cities for trick-or-treating, so this year we wanted to get a more holistic picture of the country and discover which U.S. states are best for trick-or-treaters.
Many families will walk at least a mile or two on their candy-seeking adventures, so at KURU, we care about your family’s Halloween because we care about your feet!
The Top States for Trick-or-Treating in 2023
To determine the Top-10 states for trick-or-treating in 2023, we looked at each state’s pedestrian safety (fatality rates per 100,000 people), child population, walkability score, the average weather the night of Halloween, and Google search data for ‘Halloween’, ‘Trick-or-Treating’, and ‘Halloween candy’ to measure demand for the holiday.
Here are the 10 states that came out on top:
- Utah
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- West Virginia
- Idaho
- Nebraska
- Pennsylvania
- Washington
- Virginia
- Texas
1. Utah
Utah takes the top spot as the prime destination for trick-or-treating in 2023. A very family-oriented state, Utah has the largest child population of any state in the U.S., with an estimated 28.37% of the state’s population under 18. While the WalkScore for Utah was low, Utah boasts a low pedestrian fatality rate of 1.02 deaths per 100,000 people, plus a warmer temperature of almost 70 degrees on Halloween.
2. Wisconsin
A state brimming with Halloween spirit, The Badger State had the highest number of Google searches for Halloween, Trick-or-Treating, and Halloween Candy in the U.S. during the Halloween period. This family-focused midwestern state also has a very low rate of pedestrian deaths (less than 1 in every 100,000 people), putting it in the No. 2 spot on our list.
3. Wyoming
With its unique charm and safe neighborhoods, Wyoming promises an unforgettable Halloween for families. The Cowboy State ranks high with a low rate of pedestrian fatalities, with 1.03 deaths per 100,000 people in the state. Wyoming also had very high search volume around Halloween and Trick-or-Treating, boosting this beautiful state into third place on our ranking.
4. West Virginia
The Mountain State ranked well across all data points, with the exception of the child population. Similar to Wyoming, West Virginia had high Google search volume around Halloween-related terms, plus low pedestrian deaths (1.01 people in every 100,000).
5. Idaho
Idaho comes in fifth place due to good pedestrian safety rates and mild Halloween temperatures, with a predicted high of 64 degrees on Halloween. Idaho also ranks high for state child population, with almost 25% of the state’s population being under 18 years old, making for plenty of Halloween spirit and trick-or-treating opportunities!
6. Nebraska
Nebraska lands at sixth place, offering a warm and welcoming environment for Halloween enthusiasts. Nebraska is trick-or-treater-friendly, with a higher average statewide WalkScore (41) than most other states on the list. Although Idaho and Nebraska have the same score, Idaho edged out on top due to a slightly lower pedestrian fatality rate.
7. Pennsylvania
While much of the population are adults and the weather will be a chilly 53 degrees on Halloween this year, Pennsylvania takes No. 7 on our list with high scores for walkability and pedestrian fatality rates, inviting trick-or-treaters to explore its rich history and safe neighborhoods.
8. Washington
The Evergreen State lands at number 8 on our list due to low pedestrian death rates, mild weather, and a high Google search data—an indicator of excitement regarding Halloween. Washington has a low pedestrian fatality rate of 1.26 deaths per 100,000 people in the state.
9. Virginia
Virginia comes in at number 9, with very similar scores to Washington across the board, with the exception of a slightly higher pedestrian death rate. It’s no surprise that Virginia—a state with many locations that are suspected to be haunted—made the top 10.
10. Texas
Finally, Texas rounds out our list as number 10. More than 1 in 4 people in the Lone Star State are under 18, meaning there’ll be plenty of trick-or-treaters around. Texans are also one of the top states Googling about Halloween, and they’re expecting a high of 66 degrees on All Hallow’s Eve.
The Full Ranking of the Best States for Trick-or-Treaters
Now that we’ve outlined the top-10 best states for trick-or-treating, where do other states land on the list? See below to view our complete rankings, including full data on pedestrian deaths, child population, expected high temperature for this Halloween, and Google search data from Halloween 2022.
| State | Ranking | Score | Pedestrian Deaths Per 100,000 People | Average State Walk Score | Percentage of Population Under 18 y/o | Google Trends Search Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 1 | 69 | 1.02 | 31 | 28.37% | 197 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | 60 | 0.86 | 37 | 21.68% | 256 |
| Wyoming | 3 | 58 | 1.03 | 31 | 22.85% | 149 |
| West Virginia | 4 | 57 | 1.01 | 41 | 20.11% | 227 |
| Idaho | 5 | 56 | 0.77 | 33 | 24.63% | 185 |
| Nebraska | 6 | 56 | 0.93 | 41 | 24.59% | 151 |
| Pennsylvania | 7 | 55 | 1.12 | 51 | 20.55% | 176 |
| Washington | 8 | 55 | 1.26 | 33 | 21.65% | 184 |
| Virginia | 9 | 54 | 1.29 | 35 | 21.77% | 171 |
| Texas | 10 | 52 | 2.34 | 31 | 25.29% | 165 |
| New Jersey | 11 | 51 | 1.95 | 59 | 21.83% | 193 |
| New York | 12 | 50 | 1.19 | 48 | 20.71% | 142 |
| Hawaii | 13 | 50 | 1.49 | 34 | 21.03% | 186 |
| Massachusetts | 14 | 49 | 0.75 | 50 | 19.49% | 195 |
| Iowa | 15 | 49 | 0.85 | 37 | 23.03% | 232 |
| Montana | 16* (TIE) | 49 | 1.57 | 43 | 21.25% | 192 |
| Rhode Island | 16* (TIE) | 49 | 1.61 | 57 | 19.04% | 188 |
| Oregon | 17 | 48 | 1.67 | 41 | 20.24% | 171 |
| Ohio | 18 | 47 | 1.36 | 34 | 22.15% | 215 |
| South Dakota | 19 | 47 | 1.57 | 36 | 24.60% | 176 |
| North Dakota | 20 | 46 | 1.05 | 36 | 23.87% | 185 |
| Vermont | 21 | 45 | 1.28 | 44 | 18.08% | 177 |
| Kansas | 22 | 45 | 1.58 | 34 | 23.93% | 180 |
| California | 23 | 45 | 2.50 | 46 | 22.41% | 183 |
| Nevada | 24 | 45 | 2.52 | 33 | 22.21% | 183 |
| Illinois | 25* (TIE) | 44 | 1.40 | 40 | 22.10% | 237 |
| Indiana | 25* (TIE) | 44 | 1.38 | 34 | 23.29% | 228 |
| Oklahoma | 26 | 44 | 2.14 | 29 | 24.09% | 203 |
| Louisiana | 27 | 43 | 3.10 | 37 | 23.40% | 168 |
| Minnesota | 28 | 42 | 0.80 | 30 | 23.07% | 201 |
| Colorado | 29 | 41 | 1.50 | 34 | 21.40% | 193 |
| Michigan | 30 | 41 | 1.72 | 41 | 21.45% | 227 |
| Maine | 31 | 39 | 0.67 | 39 | 18.29% | 173 |
| Maryland | 32 | 38 | 2.15 | 36 | 22.08% | 158 |
| New Hampshire | 33 | 37 | 1.17 | 38 | 18.48% | 208 |
| Kentucky | 34 | 37 | 2.03 | 31 | 22.54% | 203 |
| Missouri | 35 | 36 | 2.08 | 30 | 22.44% | 197 |
| North Carolina | 36 | 36 | 2.15 | 26 | 21.78% | 171 |
| New Mexico | 37 | 36 | 3.75 | 31 | 22.36% | 196 |
| Connecticut | 38 | 34 | 1.57 | 40 | 20.14% | 175 |
| Tennessee | 39 | 34 | 2.50 | 22 | 22.11% | 175 |
| South Carolina | 40 | 34 | 3.58 | 26 | 21.51% | 157 |
| Mississippi | 41 | 32 | 3.57 | 23 | 23.49% | 140 |
| Georgia | 42 | 32 | 2.61 | 26 | 23.40% | 161 |
| Arizona | 43 | 31 | 2.99 | 23 | 22.22% | 177 |
| Florida | 44 | 30 | 3.20 | 26 | 19.65% | 151 |
| Delaware | 45 | 29 | 2.53 | 41 | 20.73% | 162 |
| Arkansas | 46 | 29 | 2.67 | 25 | 23.23% | 178 |
| Alabama | 47 | 27 | 2.05 | 22 | 22.22% | 142 |
| Alaska | 48 | 23 | 1.78 | 22 | 24.43% | 156 |
Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treating
As you and your kids venture out Halloween night, keep in mind a few tips from the National Safety Council to make your night as safe as it is memorable.
- Have an adult accompany children on their walks to help kids navigate sidewalks, dimly lit streets, and oncoming motorists.
- Opt for face paint instead of masks to help avoid obstructions in vision.
- Let kids know to wait to eat their candy until it gets inspected by an adult.
Finally, be sure to wear enough layers to stay warm and comfortable and supportive shoes to help your feet Heel Better™ as you walk the neighborhood. Healthy feet are happy feet!
Methodology and Sources
To find the top states for trick-or-treating, we analyzed five different data points, each with a score out of 20, adding up to a total score out of 100. The data points were:
- Average statewide WalkScore - 20 points
- Pedestrian Fatality Rate per 100,000 people in each state from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2020 (the most up-to-date data at the time of publishing) - 20 points
- Child Population Data from the Children’s Bureau, 2021 (the most up-to-date data at the time of publishing) - 20 points
- State Data Population Information from the Census Bureau - 20 points
- Combined total Google Search Data for three terms: “Halloween,” “Trick-or-Treating,” and “Halloween Candy” from 10/30/2022 until 11/01/2022 - 20 points
If two or more states had the same final score, the state with lower pedestrian deaths took the higher ranking position.Additional source: Simple Steps for an Extra Safe Halloween, National Safety Council
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