Does Your State Prefer Real or Fake Christmas Trees?

Christmas comes swiftly every year, and after a season of gift shopping, every dollar spent feels like a hefty weight. Christmas trees aren’t cheap, and those prices add up, too.

Which states buy the real thing and which bust the fake ones out of storage each year? OnlineCasinos put together a little report about which states prefer real versus fake Christmas trees, along with a ton of piping hot holiday tree data. Here’s what they had to say.

The majority of our country prefers a real, living tree. Here are the states where real trees reign supreme:

• Alaska
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Idaho
• Kentucky
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennnessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

It’s no surprise that Christmas trees have gotten crazy expensive in the last 10 years. According to Finder, a Christmas tree in 2014 cost an average of about $40. It has since doubled: Today, trees cost around $80 on average.

OnlineCasinos lists some pros and cons of both real and fake trees. Here’s what they had to say in favor of real trees.

• Real trees are biodegradable and renewable.
• When you buy a real tree, you are able to directly support local agriculture.
• Trees are, of course, good for the planet, and help to absorb carbon dioxide.

Real trees are an undeniable hassle. You’ll need to find a way to transport it home, and getting rid of it is no picnic if you’re trying to do it responsibly.

Only 18 states prefer fake trees. Here are the ones that are setting up Christmas with a lot less hassle than the rest of the country:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• Virginia

Here are some of the pros of an artificial tree:

• This is a one-time purchase, and you’ll use it for many years.
• Fake trees are extremely low-maintenance, which means no watering.
• They always look healthy.

Unfortunately, they’re not great for the environment since they aren't made of renewable materials and use up lots of electricity.

According to NBC, the average Christmas tree costs about $100. If that’s the case, they are no longer that much pricier than the real thing, and they come with multiple years of use.

OnlineCasinos suggests the following if you’re looking to pick out the perfect tree, real or fake.

• Make sure your tree is right for the space it’s going in.
• Be sure you’re ready for the maintenance required for either type of tree.
• If you do buy a real tree, aim for local farmers rather than places like Home Depot.
• Take care of your tree by watering it to extend its life.

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