Sacramento is one of the best cities for Halloween, ranking says. It’s No. 1 in this category

Cortlynn Stark, The Sum
Xavier Mascareñas/xmascarenas@sacbee.com

It’s spooky season — and Sacramento is one of the best places in the country to celebrate, a new report found.

WalletHub’s list of the Best Places for Halloween used 20 metrics — grouped under trick-or-treater friendliness, Halloween fun and weather — to compare the 100 largest cities. Sacramento ranked 18th.

California had eight other cities in the top 20: Los Angeles (third), Anaheim (sixth), San Diego (seventh), Santa Ana (12th), San Francisco (13th), San Jose (14th), Chula Vista (16th) and Long Beach (20th).

Sacramento took first place for weather.

The following factors were included in trick-or-treater friendliness, where Sacramento ranked 48th:

  • Share of potential trick-or-treaters

  • Share of potential trick-or-treat stops

  • Population density

  • Walk score

  • Crime rate

  • Car crash related pedestrian fatality rate

  • Perception of safety

For Halloween fun (where Sacramento ranked 18th), WalletHub included these factors:

  • Google search index for “Halloween parties”

  • Halloween costume stores per capita

  • Halloween party supply stores per capita

  • Candy and chocolate stores per capita

  • Haunted houses per capita

  • Farms per capita

  • Pumpkin patches per capita

  • Movie theaters per capita

  • Average price per movie ticket

  • Bars and dance clubs per capita

  • Number of amusement parks

For Halloween weather, WalletHub compared the temperature on Halloween vs. the average temperature and the forecasted Halloween precipitation.

Source: WalletHub

How can you save money on Halloween?

The average U.S. household will spend $108.24 on Halloween expenses such as treats and costumes this year, adding up to about $12.2 billion for the 73% of households participating, according to WalletHub.

If you’re looking to save, Ashley LeBaron-Black, assistant professor of family life at Brigham Young University, recommended looking for free community events and inexpensive home activities such as pumpkin carving. You can also DIY costumes instead of buying a new outfit.

““Give children a budget for their costumes — this will help Halloween be more manageable for you while also teaching valuable financial skills,” LeBaron-Black said in the report. “Help kids think of creative ways to put together their own costumes instead of buying one.”

Halloween could also be an opportunity to teach children about personal finance.

“It’s related to delayed gratification, just like saving up for something you want or budgeting,” LeBaron-Black said. “Halloween candy can also be used to instill habits of giving, that candy and money bring more joy when they are shared, not hoarded.”

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