These states are the most obsessed with Halloween, new survey finds

Halloween spirit burns brightest in North Dakota, Delaware, and Idaho, at least according to a new national survey that crowned them the country’s top Halloween fanatics.

The study, conducted by Talker Research for HI-CHEW, asked 5,000 Halloween celebrators from across the U.S. to rate how much they love the holiday. Residents in the top three states scored an enthusiastic 4.2 out of 5 for their spooky-season devotion.

Trailing just behind were Alabama, California, Iowa, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wyoming, all earning strong scores of 4.1.

TOP 10 BIGGEST HALLOWEEN FANATICS

• Delaware – 4.2
• Idaho – 4.2
• North Dakota – 4.2
• Alabama – 4.1
• California – 4.1
• Iowa – 4.1
• New Hampshire – 4.1
• Oregon – 4.1
• Rhode Island – 4.1
• Wyoming – 4.1

Californians appear especially eager to get the celebration started, more than one in four (26%) said they begin thinking about Halloween before Thanksgiving or Christmas even arrive.

Tennessee residents, however, take their passion to another level. Seventeen percent said they start preparing early, buying decorations, candy, or making party plans before the new year, followed by 15% of Californians and 13% of New Mexicans who do the same.

The research didn’t stop at enthusiasm, it also explored how Americans celebrate their favorite fright-filled holiday.

Across the country, the average Halloween fan purchases about 4.5 bags of candy each year, with nearly half (48%) choosing the party-size option. In total, that adds up to roughly 745.8 million pounds of candy, the same weight as about 33.9 billion bats or 62 million pumpkins.

When it comes to entertainment, Arkansas tops the charts for scary movie marathons, averaging 6.4 horror flicks per season. New Yorkers come in second, watching about six, and carving an impressive 3.5 pumpkins apiece.

Arkansans and New Jerseyans spend nearly a month planning their costumes, while Wisconsinites go all out with decorations, more than 80% say they transform their homes for Halloween. Nearly half of Wyoming residents (49%) make haunted houses part of their annual routine.

Candy, however, remains the main attraction. Utah leads the nation in sugar enthusiasm, with 85% of residents indulging in sweets, followed closely by Idaho and Maine at 84%. Trick-or-treat participation is highest in Ohio (68%), Indiana (64%), and North Dakota (63%).

In New York, the trick-or-treat strategy is serious business, residents visit around four neighborhoods, spend over four hours collecting candy, and carry multiple bags to hold it all. Nearly half (46%) stick to their favorite candies, while 32% prefer a variety. Another 23% pick based on packaging, choosing the coolest or spookiest wrappers.

About 18% of Americans start stocking up on candy the moment stores roll out Halloween displays. Chocolate reigns supreme as the nation’s favorite treat (86%), followed by chewy candies (53%) and fruity ones (43%). Utahns are most likely to crave chewy candy (70%), while Mississippians tend to go fruity (60%).

And if you’re wondering how long those treats last, not long. A third of Americans admit their Halloween haul is gone within a week.

Finally, when it comes to generosity, New Yorkers take the crown again: 37% say they pride themselves on giving out the best candy on the block.