Possibly second only to Christmas, Halloween is the best holiday for children. Just think about it: Not only do you get to dress up in a kooky or spooky costume, you can go door to door collecting candy! For many kids, it’s nothing short of a dream come true – but you might be surprised to learn that Halloween candy preferences vary from state to state. (Take a look at the most popular Halloween costume in your state.)
When you went out trick-or-treating as a kid, which candies were you secretly hoping would find their way into your bag more than the others? Something chocolate-covered, like Kit Kat or Snickers, perhaps. Or maybe something chewy and fruit-flavored, like Starburst or Skittles. (If the former, you might like to know about the best chocolate brands on the market.)
One great thing about the Halloween haul is the fact that at the end of the day, when you dump that big bag of candy out on your kitchen table and go to town, there really aren’t any winners and losers (except for black licorice, maybe).
Now that we’re older, we’re (unfortunately) no longer the ones collecting candy; we’re the ones opening those doors and handing said candy out. So when you stock up on the Halloween candy you’ll be dropping into those pillowcases or plastic pumpkin buckets every year, what do you buy? Depending on where you live, your top pick might be different than that of the residents of other states.
To compile a list of the favorite Halloween candy in every state (along with each one’s second and third choices), 24/7 Tempo reviewed the Most Popular Halloween Candy report published by Top Agency, a branding, marketing, and public relations firm. Its team analyzed online shopping trends in October 2021 and (so far) October 2022 to determine the final list.
Reese’s or Kit Kat? Skittles or Twix? The choice is yours – but your neighbor’s choice might be exactly the same.
Alabama
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Starburst
> 3rd favorite: Kit Kat
Alaska
> Favorite Halloween candy: Snickers
> 2nd favorite: Skittles
> 3rd favorite: M&Ms (Original)
Arizona
> Favorite Halloween candy: Skittles
> 2nd favorite: Kit Kat
> 3rd favorite: Snickers
Arkansas
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Starburst
> 3rd favorite: Snickers
California
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Kit Kat
> 3rd favorite: Skittles
Colorado
> Favorite Halloween candy: M&Ms (Original)
> 2nd favorite: Kit Kat
> 3rd favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
Connecticut
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: M&Ms (Original)
> 3rd favorite: Twix
Delaware
> Favorite Halloween candy: Starburst
> 2nd favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 3rd favorite: Milky Way
Florida
> Favorite Halloween candy: Milky Way
> 2nd favorite: Kit Kat
> 3rd favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
Georgia
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Twix
> 3rd favorite: Kit Kat
Hawaii
> Favorite Halloween candy: M&Ms (Original)
> 2nd favorite: Hot Tamales
> 3rd favorite: Twix
Idaho
> Favorite Halloween candy: Snickers
> 2nd favorite: Skittles
> 3rd favorite: Kit Kat
Illinois
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Twix
> 3rd favorite: Milky Way
Indiana
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Starburst
> 3rd favorite: Milky Way
Iowa
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Kit Kat
> 3rd favorite: Milky Way
Kansas
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Skittles
> 3rd favorite: M&Ms (Original)
Kentucky
> Favorite Halloween candy: Butterfinger
> 2nd favorite: Kit Kat
> 3rd favorite: M&Ms (Original)
Louisiana
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Kit Kat
> 3rd favorite: M&Ms (Original)
Maine
> Favorite Halloween candy: Kit Kat
> 2nd favorite: M&Ms (Original)
> 3rd favorite: Twix
Maryland
> Favorite Halloween candy: Milky Way
> 2nd favorite: Snickers
> 3rd favorite: Skittles
Massachusetts
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Starburst
> 3rd favorite: Kit Kat
Michigan
> Favorite Halloween candy: Starburst
> 2nd favorite: Kit Kat
> 3rd favorite: Milky Way
Minnesota
> Favorite Halloween candy: Skittles
> 2nd favorite: Kit Kat
> 3rd favorite: Starburst
Mississippi
> Favorite Halloween candy: Kit Kat
> 2nd favorite: Starburst
> 3rd favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
Missouri
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Kit Kat
> 3rd favorite: Skittles
Montana
> Favorite Halloween candy: Hot tamales
> 2nd favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 3rd favorite: Twix
Nebraska
> Favorite Halloween candy: Milky Way
> 2nd favorite: Snickers
> 3rd favorite: Starburst
Nevada
> Favorite Halloween candy: Kit Kat
> 2nd favorite: Skittles
> 3rd favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
New Hampshire
> Favorite Halloween candy: M&Ms (Original)
> 2nd favorite: Snickers
> 3rd favorite: Twix
New Jersey
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Kit Kat
> 3rd favorite: Milky Way
New Mexico
> Favorite Halloween candy: Kit Kat
> 2nd favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 3rd favorite: Hot Tamales
New York
> Favorite Halloween candy: Kit Kat
> 2nd favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 3rd favorite: Twix
North Carolina
> Favorite Halloween candy: Snickers
> 2nd favorite: Kit Kat
> 3rd favorite: Starburst
North Dakota
> Favorite Halloween candy: Skittles
> 2nd favorite: Kit Kat
> 3rd favorite: Starburst
Ohio
> Favorite Halloween candy: M&Ms (Original)
> 2nd favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 3rd favorite: Kit Kat
Oklahoma
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Twix
> 3rd favorite: Kit Kat
Oregon
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Twix
> 3rd favorite: Kit Kat
Pennsylvania
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Starburst
> 3rd favorite: M&Ms (Original)
Rhode Island
> Favorite Halloween candy: Snickers
> 2nd favorite: Skittles
> 3rd favorite: Twix
South Carolina
> Favorite Halloween candy: Kit Kat
> 2nd favorite: Skittles
> 3rd favorite: Starburst
South Dakota
> Favorite Halloween candy: Kit Kat
> 2nd favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 3rd favorite: Snickers
Tennessee
> Favorite Halloween candy: Skittles
> 2nd favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 3rd favorite: Kit Kat
Texas
> Favorite Halloween candy: Starburst
> 2nd favorite: Kit Kat
> 3rd favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
Utah
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Milky Way
> 3rd favorite: M&Ms (Original)
Vermont
> Favorite Halloween candy: Hot tamales
> 2nd favorite: Kit Kat
> 3rd favorite: Twix
Virginia
> Favorite Halloween candy: Kit Kat
> 2nd favorite: Skittles
> 3rd favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
Washington
> Favorite Halloween candy: Skittles
> 2nd favorite: Starburst
> 3rd favorite: Kit Kat
West Virginia
> Favorite Halloween candy: Kit Kat
> 2nd favorite: Skittles
> 3rd favorite: Snickers
Wisconsin
> Favorite Halloween candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
> 2nd favorite: Milky Way
> 3rd favorite: Butterfinger
Wyoming
> Favorite Halloween candy: M&Ms (Original)
> 2nd favorite: Starburst
> 3rd favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup