us census bureau halloween
Places to Spend Halloween
Some places around the country that may put you in the Halloween mood


October 31, 2017 - Dating back 2,000 years to the Celtic festival of Samhain, Halloween is an ancient tradition associated with images of witches, ghosts and vampires. Today, Halloween has evolved into a celebration characterized by child-friendly activities like trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns and dressing in costumes.

Trick or Treat!


41.1 million

The estimated number of potential trick-or-treaters in 2015 — children ages 5 to 14 — across the United States. Of course, many other children — older than age 15 and younger than age 5 — also go trick-or-treating.
Source:
aff file   2016 Population Estimates, Table PEPASR6H


118.8 million

The number of occupied housing units across the nation in the first quarter 2017 — all potential stops for trick-or-treaters.
Source:
web file   Housing Vacancies and Homeownership, Table 8


66.6 million

The number of housing units where trick-or-treaters had to climb steps in order to fill their bags full of candy in 2015.
Source:
web file   2015 American Housing Survey


78.7%

The percentage of U.S. households that agreed their neighbors could be trusted in 2013.
Source:
web file   2013 American Housing Survey


17.3%

The percentage of U.S. households who think their neighborhood has a lot of petty crime.
Source:
web file   2015 American Housing Survey



Hauntingly Delicious

39,815

The number of people employed by U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2015. This industry’s value of shipments totaled $17.2 billion, up from $16.0 billion in 2014.
Source:
aff file   2015 Annual Survey of Manufactures, NAICS 311351, 311352


18,427

The number of people employed by U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced nonchocolate confectionary products. This industry’s value of shipments totaled $8.2 billion in 2015.
Source:
aff file   2015 Annual Survey of Manufactures, NAICS 311340


3,280

The number of U.S. confectionary and nut stores that sell candy and other confectionary products, employing 23,243 people in 2015.
Source:
aff file   2015 County Business Patterns, NAICS 445292


Dressed to Thrill


A sampling of occupations that one may dress up as for Halloween:

OccupationNumber of Full-Time, Year-Round
Employees Age 16 plus
Actors 14,423
Athletes, coaches, umpires and related workers 123,505
Bailiffs, correctional officers and jailers 375,720
Dentists 93,294
Physicians and surgeons 451,680
Farmers, ranchers and other agricultural managers 265,198
Firefighters 743,383
Police and sheriff’s patrol officers 669,550
Registered nurses 2,317,493
Source:
aff file   2016 American Community Survey, B24124



Places to Spend Halloween


Some places around the country that may put you in the Halloween mood:


Tombstone, Ariz. (estimated population 1,300)
Source:
aff file   2016 Population Estimates


Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. (estimated population 10,198)
Source:
aff file   2016 Population Estimates


Kill Devil Hills, N.C. (estimated population 7,121)
Source:
aff file   2016 Population Estimates


Yellville, Ark. (estimated population 1,171)
Source:
aff file   2016 Population Estimates


Transylvania County, N.C. (estimated population 33,482)
Source:
aff file   2016 Population Estimates


Slaughter Beach, Del. (estimated population 233)
Source:
aff file   2016 Population Estimates


Casper, Wyo. (estimated population 59,324)
Source:
aff file   2016 Population Estimates


Scarville, Iowa (estimated population 71)
Source:
aff file   2016 Population Estimates


Truth or Consequences, N.M. (estimated population 6,023)
Source:
aff file   2016 Population Estimates



Spooktacular


4,407

The number of motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) in the United States in 2015 where one could possibly enjoy a horror movie. California (497), Texas (330), New York (258) and Florida (199) had the most of such establishments. There were 213 drive-in motion picture theaters in 2015 — Ohio had 21, California had 18 and Pennsylvania had 19 drive-in motion picture theaters.
Source:
aff file   2015 County Business Patterns, NAICS 512131 & 512132


$12.4 million

The value of U.S. imports of pumpkins in 2016. Pumpkin carving and decorating is a popular Halloween tradition.
Source:
web file   International Trade Statistics, Commodity Code 070993100


$1.93 billion

The estimated private construction spending on theme/amusement parks in 2016. Halloween events at theme/amusement parks can be frighteningly fun. For more information about construction spending, visit <www.census.gov/constructionspending>.
Source:
xls file   Annual Value of Construction Put in Place Survey 2008-2016 [<1.0 MB]


1,026

The number of formal wear and costume rental establishments in the United States. This industry had 6,504 paid employees across the nation in 2015 (for the pay period including March 12, 2015).
Source:
aff file   2015 County Business Patterns, NAICS 532220


302

The number of broom, brush, and mop, and casket manufacturing establishments (for the more authentic witches and vampires). Combined, these two industries employed 12,627 people and had a total value of shipments of $3.6 billion in 2012.
Source:
aff file   2012 Economic Census, NAICS 339994 and NAICS 339995


$935.5 million

Dollar value of U.S. fresh apples exported in 2016. Whether bobbing for or dipping in caramel, apples can be a fun treat around Halloween.
Source:
web file   International Trade Statistics, Commodity Code 080810



Who You Gonna Call?


89.0%

The percentage of households that had a cellular phone in 2011, compared with only 36.0 percent in 1998. The percentage of households with a cellular phone only (no landline) rose from less than 1.0 percent in 1998 to 28.0 percent in 2011.
Source:
pdf file   Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States: 2011 [<1.0 MB]
Source: U.S. Census Bureau