According to a new study, Halloween parties are more expensive in Irving, Texas than they are in New York.
In its 2021 Best Places for Halloween research, WalletHub found that the average price for a Halloween party ticket in New York is $32 compared to $38 in Irving.
“New York is the best place to go for Halloween because of its Trick-or-Treater friendliness,” said Jill Gonzalez, a WalletHub analyst. “The city has a high population density and scores high in terms of pedestrian friendliness.”
A Harris Poll found that Halloween is the third most loved holiday nationwide. The average U.S. household is expected to spend $102.74 on Halloween expenses for decorations, treats, and costumes, which collectively totals about $10.1 billion, according to National Retail Federation data.
“Garland and Irving have plenty of movie theaters per capita where people can enjoy Halloween-themed films,” Gonzalez told Dallas Express. “The two cities also have great trick-or-treating potential due to the large share of trick-or-treaters and trick-or-treat stops.”
While New York scored the top spot overall, the price of a movie ticket is still slightly lower in Texas for those who plan to watch a horror film on Halloween night. New Yorkers will pay $14 to see a movie, while Texans in Garland and Irving will pay only $11.
Garland and Irving landed securely on the Best Places for Halloween 2021 list at No. 46 and 47, respectively.
“Garland and Irving are low on the list because they have a small number of candy and chocolate stores as well as low numbers of bars and dance clubs per capita,” Gonzalez said in an interview.
However, there is one area in which Irving and Garland, Texas, outranked New York for Halloween fun.
“While New York has the largest number of Halloween costume stores, candy and chocolate stores, movie theaters and amusement parks, and the sixth-largest number of Halloween party supply stores per capita, in Garland and Irving, the weather is great for trick-or-treating as there is no precipitation forecasted for Halloween,” Gonzalez said.
By late October, temperatures are typically dropping in New York.
“Because New York has a high population density, it’s a great place to go trick or treating,” Gonzalez said. “However, safety is still an issue in the midst of the pandemic.”
Another reason the cities of Garland and Irving ranked near the bottom half of the list is because of their slow vaccination rates.
“Garland ranks in the middle of the pack with over 53% while Irving comes in 66th with just above half of its residents fully vaccinated,” Gonzalez said. “High vaccination rates increase safety, but COVID is still spreading, and people need to make sure they enjoy the holiday while also respecting the health measures issued by authorities.”
In comparison, New York has more than 61% of its residents fully vaccinated, placing it among the top 20 cities.
“New York ranked in the top half in terms of having a low crime rate and in terms of the perception of safety walking alone during daylight and night,” Gonzalez added.
