The Most Popular Halloween Candy In Every State

There's no holiday that's quite as centered on candy as Halloween. The festivities will look a little different this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but according to a survey by the National Retail Federation, 62% of people still plan to pass out candy this year, and treat spending is expected to reach over $8 billion. However, what candies will end up in knapsacks and plastic pumpkins may vary depending on what state you live in.

We checked in with CandyStore.com to find out which Halloween candies are the most sold in every state and Washington, D.C. The online candy seller combed 13 years of its internal sales data (2007 to 2019) to see how many pounds of different Halloween candy are bought in every state during the Halloween season.

Alabama's favorite Halloween treat is quite divisive — some say it's the most hated in America — but the haters are going to hate. With 115,269 pounds sold in Alabama each year, candy corn prevails.

The hard-working state of Alaska is hard at work loving Twix. The Frontier State purchases 4,908 pounds of the biscuity chocolate bar each year.

Arizona is heating things up with Hot Tamales. Candy lovers here buy a whopping 751,772 pounds of the cinnamon-flavored oblong candy.

Arkansas's favorite candy is Jolly Ranchers. Naturally, the Natural State purchases 228,645 pounds of the fruit-flavored hard sweet.

California is tasting the rainbow, which technically has a lot more colors than this state's favorite candy. Cali residents get their hands on 1,509,827 pounds of Skittles.

While you may want to hold off on real kisses for now, there's nothing wrong with giving Hershey's Kisses. Colorado accounts for 129,826 pounds.

Connecticut's favorite Halloween candy is out-of-this-world Milky Way. This coastal state buys 2,987 pounds of the nougaty sweet.

All in all, Skittles is the most-sold Halloween candy in America. This is partially thanks to Delaware, which purchases 21,336 pounds of the technicolor treat.

Florida's favorite Halloween candy is Skittles, which should come as no surprise because that's actually the state's favorite candy year-round. Speaking to spooky season only, Florida buys 598,285 pounds.

The Peach State? More like the Swedish Fish State. With 145,827 pounds in sales, Georgia has its sights set on this red gummy candy.

The beautiful state of Hawaii, which is also one of the most expensive places to get married, says, "I do" to Skittles. Residents of the tropical island buy 28,091 pounds of the candy.

Idaho may be known for its potatoes — a perfectly versatile food that you can make into casserole, soup and more — but in October, it's all about Starburst. The Gem State accounts for 90,284 pounds.

Illinois may not agree on the Cubs or the Sox, but there's no denying this state's favorite Halloween candy: Sour Patch Kids. People here purchase 175,867 pounds of the sweet and sour treat.

What does Indiana snack on while binging the biggest Halloween films from the last five decades? Starburst — 99,725 pounds of them, to be exact.

Iowa, home to a famously haunted murder house you can actually visit this year, prefers M&M's to any other Halloween candy. Residents buy 67,829 pounds of it.

Kansas purchases 229,857 pounds of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, making the peanut butter and chocolate sweet this state's top Halloween treat. We'll go ahead and assume it was the original type, because that's the best one.

Summer is certainly over, which means the dirt pudding has gone away and the Swedish Fish are out to play. Kentucky buys 75,254 pounds of this aquatic Halloweentime sweet.

When life gives you lemons, eat Lemonheads. That's Louisiana's M.O. The Bayou State buys 115,789 pounds of this tart hard candy.

The most iconic food in Maine is undoubtedly lobster rolls, but the most popular Halloween candy? Sour Patch Kids. Here, sales for the beloved gummies reach 59,873 pounds.

The people of Maryland typically satisfy their sweet tooth with ice cream, but on Halloween, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups take precedence. Sales for the candy in this state are 36,887 pounds.

First they're sour, then they're sweet. That tagline, arguably one of the most famous product slogans of all time, belongs to Sour Patch Kids, Massachusetts' preferred Halloween candy. Approximately 70,772 pounds are sold in the state.

Michigan's favorite Halloween treat is candy corn, which actually has a pretty interesting origin story. This mitten-shaped state buys 115,269 pounds of it per year.

Minnesota, home to some of the best lake towns, has a fixation with Skittles. The state purchases 190,827 pounds of the candy each year.

Mississippi loves 3 Musketeers around Halloween. In fact, 95,727 pounds of the chocolate bar are purchased here.

Missouri's favorite Halloween candy is Milky Way. People here purchase 95,727 pounds of the confection.

Montana with the curveball: This state said, "Keep your chocolate and fruit-flavored sweets" because with 29,773 pounds in sales, the favorite here is Dubble Bubble gum.

Sour Patch Kids are one of those guilty pleasure foods we won't apologize for loving — and neither will Nebraska. The state buys 98,486 pounds of the stuff each Halloween.

Quality cacao from the best chocolate shop in your state is nice and all, but Halloween is about Hershey's Kisses. Nevada is on board with 310,974 pounds of the teensy treat each year.

At 69,692 pounds in sales, New Hampshire is all-in on M&M's, which is responsible for creating two of the most legendary food mascots in history.

Some of the best things in life are old-school, like Tootsie Pops, New Jersey's favorite Halloween candy. This state licks to the center of 141,782 pounds of this candy per year.

New Mexico has all the autumnal feels on lock. Not only is this state one of the prettiest places for fall foliage and charm, but everyone is down with Jolly Ranchers on Halloween too — 80,092 pounds of them.

You know that New York has some of the best pizza in America, but did you know that the Empire State's favorite Halloween treat is Sour Patch Kids? Candy connoisseurs buy 150,325 pounds around the spooky holiday.

North Carolina purchases 85,779 pounds of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups on average each Halloween season.

If the world's largest buffalo monument (which is in North Dakota, by the way) had a favorite Halloween sweet, it'd probably be candy corn because this state obtains 61,837 pounds of it in celebration of the holiday.

If you took the coolest roadside attraction in Ohio, which is probably the largest basket you'll ever see, you could fill it with the state's favorite Halloween candy: Blow Pops. Each year, residents purchase 170,236 pounds of these suckers.

"Double, Double Toil and Trouble" may not have been the most popular song from the year you were born, but Dubble Bubble is the most popular Halloween candy in Oklahoma. Each year, people here purchase 19,232 pounds of it on average.

Something kind of scary about Oregon is that it has the deepest lake in the entire country. What's not scary is that the people here choose M&M's as their favorite Halloween candy with 89,772 pounds of it sold each year.

Pennsylvania is the birthplace of Hershey, so you can pretty much expect the candy maker to reign supreme over any holiday in this state. For the Halloween season though, residents stock up with 275,617 pounds of Hershey's Mini Bars.

Rhode Island, which has ordered the most takeout during the coronavirus pandemic, has chosen Twix as its No. 1 Halloween candy. America's smallest state goes big with 17,827 pounds of the chocolate bar.

South Carolina has a thing for Butterfinger. The coastal state purchases 119,664 pounds of the crispety, crunchety, peanut-buttery chocolate bar.

South Dakota is a great state to retire in, and folks there love Starburst. Residents buy 26,371 pounds of the fruit-flavored candy on average.

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? Wouldn't you like to know. With 55,627 pounds of this lolly sold, it claims the top spot as Tennessee's favorite spooky time candy.

After picking out perfect pumpkins for their front porches, Texans are fixing for a Halloween filled with Starburst. The Lone Star state chows down on 984,627 pounds of it per year.

In Utah, you can find a bunch of people who prefer Jolly Ranchers in their pillow case on Halloween. The state buys 413,099 pounds of them each year.

Vermont, one of the best states for working moms, is enamored with Skittles. Moms, dads and everyone else purchases 34,670 pounds of them on average each year.

"You're not yourself. Eat a Snickers," is what people might say in Virginia. With 165,255 pounds of it purchased each year, this chocolate bar comes out as the state's favorite Halloween candy.

Washington, home to one of the most pet-friendly cities in America, prefers Tootsie Pops to any other candy on Halloween with 205,882 pounds sold per year. Just don't share them with your pooch.

Every American should explore Washington, D.C. in their lifetime, and when you're there, know that you're among people with great taste in Halloween candy. With 27,546 pounds sold on average each year, M&M's reign supreme in the nation's capital.

The difference between West Virginia's favorite candies for Valentine's Day and Halloween are quite stark. On Feb. 14, the state prefers Conversation Hearts, but on Oct. 31, it goes after Hershey's Mini Bars. About 39,812 pounds of the chocolates are purchased each year.

Wisconsin is known for its cheese, but residents have a sweet tooth for Starburst around Halloween. This state is responsible for buying an average of 110,827 pounds per year.

Perhaps the most unique of them all, Wyoming's favorite Halloween candy is salt water taffy. Beating out classics like Reese's and Snickers, 25,864 pounds of the sticky sweet treat are sold each year on average. Now that you know what the little goblins, ghouls and their parents want on Oct. 31, it's important to know the safest ways to get it to them. That's why we rounded up clever social distancing trick-or-treat ideas for a healthy and happy Halloween.

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