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This is officially the best city in America for Halloween

WalletHub ranks the top U.S. cities for costumes, candy, and creepy fun

By Amanda Teague Oct 31, 2025 4:00 AM

New York City — New York City ISmiths / Shutterstock

If you want to celebrate Halloween in true spooky style this year, pack your costume and head to New York City, officially crowned the best city in America for Halloween, according to WalletHub’s 2025 Best Cities for Halloween report.

With total Halloween spending expected to hit a record $13.1 billion this year, WalletHub analyzed the 100 largest U.S. cities across 20 factors, from the number of candy and costume shops to safety, walkability, and trick-or-treat potential.

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The Big Apple leads the pack with the most candy stores per capita, second-most costume shops, and residents who search for “Halloween parties” more than any other city in the nation. Add in its high population density and walkability, and you’ve got a trick-or-treater’s paradise. Movie lovers will find plenty to do, too: New York ranks second in movie theaters per capita and offers no shortage of haunted houses and amusement parks to keep the chills going.

Coming in second is Jersey City, New Jersey, which combines walkability and safety for an ideal family-friendly Halloween. It has one of the lowest crime rates in the country and a surprising number of movie theaters for those who prefer jump scares from the big screen.

In third place is Los Angeles, California, where endless pumpkin patches, costume shops, and party supply stores make prepping for Halloween a breeze. With the most movie theaters per capita and sixth-most haunted houses, L.A. puts the West Coast on the map when it comes to spooky season fun.

The top 20 cities for Halloween

New York, New York
Jersey City, New Jersey
Los Angeles, California
Chicago, Illinois
Las Vegas, Nevada
Miami, Florida
Anaheim, California
Boston, Massachusetts
Gilbert, Arizona
Newark, New Jersey
Orlando, Florida
San Diego, California
St. Paul, Minnesota
Honolulu, Hawaii
Washington, DC
Laredo, Texas
San Francisco, California
Cincinnati, Ohio
Hialeah, Florida
San Jose, California

Amanda, an accomplished freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio, is a dedicated explorer of both the world and the written word… Read Full Bio

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Destinations

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Copenhagen

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the lobby at Six Senses Rome

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