News Every State's Most Popular Halloween Candy Be ready for trick-or-treaters. By Jelisa Castrodale Jelisa Castrodale Jelisa Castrodale has been a staff writer with Food & Wine since 2019. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on October 5, 2023 Photo: Derek Davis / Portland Press Herald via Getty Images If you’ve walked into a supermarket, big box retailer, or almost any other store recently, you’ve probably strolled past the aisles stocked with bags of Halloween candy, ready for you to hide in your desk drawers so you can have a little pumpkin-shaped treat every afternoon until Christmas. Or, uh, so you’re prepared for all the trick-or-treaters who will knock on your door at the end of the month. Either way. According to online candy retailer CandyStore.com, a whopping 96% of people who celebrate Halloween will buy candy, spending an average of $31.93 each. (The 4% who aren’t buying candy are the ones who undoubtedly drop toothbrushes into underwhelmed kids’ treat bags.) The company cites data from the National Retail Federation, which estimates that overall Halloween candy spending will hit $3.6 billion this year, a 16% jump over last year. So what are we all buying? CandyStore.com has analyzed its sales data for the past 15 years and has determined that the top 10 Halloween candies are, in order from No. 1 to No. 10, Reese’s Cups, M&M’s, Hot Tamales, Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, Starburst, Hershey’s Kisses, Candy Corn, Hershey’s Mini Bars, and Snickers. Courtesy of CandyStore.com As far as state-by-state numbers go, here is what the site says are the fave candies of all 50 states (and we have to say that we have some serious questions about what’s happening in Louisiana and Utah). A Witch's Tips for the Best Halloween Party Ever Alabama: SkittlesAlaska: TwixArizona: Hershey’s KissesArkansas ButterfingerCalifornia: M&M’sColorado: Milky WayConnecticut: Almond JoyDelaware: Sour Patch KidsFlorida: Reese’s CupsGeorgia: Jolly RanchersHawaii: Hershey’s Mini BarsIdaho: SnickersIllinois: Sour Patch KidsIndiana: StarburstIowa: Reese’s CupsKansas: M&M’sKentucky: Reese’s CupsLouisiana: LemonheadsMaine: Sour Patch KidsMaryland: Hershey’s KissesMassachusetts: ButterfingerMichigan: StarburstMinnesota: Hot TamalesMississippi: 3 MusketeersMissouri: Almond JoyMontana: TwixNebraska: Sour Patch KidsNevada: Hershey’s Mini BarsNew Hampshire: Reese’s CupsNew Jersey: Tootsie PopsNew Mexico: Hot TamalesNew York: Sour Patch KidsNorth Carolina: M&M’sNorth Dakota: Hot TamalesOhio: Blow PopsOklahoma: SkittlesOregon: M&M’sPennsylvania: Hershey’s Mini BarsRhode Island: M&M’sSouth Carolina: SkittlesSouth Dakota: StarburstTennessee: Tootsie PopsTexas: Sour Patch KidsUtah: Candy CornVermont: M&M’sVirginia: ButterfingerWashington DC: M&M’sWashington: Tootsie PopsWest Virginia: Hershey’s Mini BarsWisconsin: ButterfingerWyoming: Reese’s Cups The site actually listed the top three candies for each state, and, in one of the biggest surprises, Salt Water Taffy was the runner-up choice in four states (Nebraska, Tennessee, Washington, and Wyoming), only one of which is close to any actual salt water. The other interesting takeaway was that Oregon residents are the most likely to hand out full-sized candy bars, which is good news for any costumed kid heading out later this month. It’s worth taking these results with a grain of salt because, again, this data is based on the website’s own sales numbers. But still, it’s hard to argue with Reese’s Cups being the overall favorite. Why else would we have so many of them in our desks? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit