The Most Popular Halloween Candies in Every State

The days of saying "trick or treat" at a stranger's doorstep and receiving whatever candy they put in your bag are fading away. Nowadays, trick-or-treaters are handed a bowl and left to choose their favorite — as if a little "you get what you get, and you won't throw a fit" ever hurt anyone. Not to mention the eager anticipation of onlooking parents as they see Reese's being tossed into their peanut butter-hating kiddos' sacks. But which varieties of candy are kids opting for the most, and how do those decisions differ from state to state? CandyStore.com compiled 15 years' worth of sales data to determine the most sought-after sweets during spooky season year after year.

Though Sour Patch Kids, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and M&M's are frequent favorites, some states stand alone with their preferences for candies like Lemonheads, Swedish Fish, and Charms Blow Pops. Here's the state-by-state breakdown:

Tootsie Pops: Washington, Utah, Tennessee, New Jersey

M&M’s: Oregon, Kansas, Iowa, Ohio, New Hampshire, Vermont

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: California, Wyoming, Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida

Hot Tamales: Nevada, North Dakota, Minnesota, Virginia

Snickers: Idaho

Twix: Montana, Rhode Island

Hershey Kisses: Arizona, Colorado, Maryland

Hershey’s Mini Bars: New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Hawaii

Jolly Ranchers: South Dakota

Sour Patch Kids: Nebraska, Illinois, Maine, New York, Massachusetts, Delaware, Alaska

Skittles: Oklahoma, Alabama

Starburst: Texas, Michigan, Indiana

Milky Way: Missouri

Butterfinger: Arkansas, Wisconsin, South Carolina

Lemonheads: Louisiana

3 Musketeers: Mississippi

Almond Joy: Connecticut

Blow Pops: West Virginia

Swedish Fish: Georgia

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Whether your state prefers Snickers or Starburst, you can expect a surge in candy sales this year. Some 69% of consumers are planning to celebrate Halloween this year, up from 65% in 2021 and comparable to the 68% recorded in 2019 before the pandemic, according to an annual survey by the National Retail Federation. The hike in participation is also influencing an increase in overall spending for Halloween, which includes everything from candy to costume sales — this year's estimate is a record-breaking $10.6 billion. Consumers are planning to spend an average of $100 for candy, decor, and costumes, according to the NRF survey.