According to the bureau’s Statistics in Schools program, an estimated 40 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 lived in the United States in 2025, representing a sizable population of potential trick-or-treaters.
Source: Census Bureau (Statistics in Schools)
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WASHINGTON — Halloween may be a night for ghosts, goblins and things that go bump in the night, but the U.S. Census Bureau has a few numbers to put the holiday into perspective.
According to the bureau’s Statistics in Schools program, an estimated 40 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 lived in the United States in 2025, representing a sizable population of potential trick-or-treaters.
And there are plenty of doors to knock on. The Census Bureau estimates that nearly 134 million occupied homes could serve as possible destinations for young candy collectors. In 2023, approximately 56.6 million housing units had steps that visitors might need to climb to collect their treats.
A Sweet Business
Halloween candy is more than a seasonal indulgence. In 2023, the United States had more than 3,400 candy and nut stores, according to Census Bureau business statistics.
The nation’s chocolate and chocolate candy manufacturers employed approximately 42,020 people that year, while nonchocolate candy manufacturers employed another 28,988.
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For those more interested in costumes than confections, the bureau counted nearly 700 formal wear and costume rental establishments nationwide in 2023.
And some popular Halloween disguises have plenty of real-world counterparts. Census figures include approximately 351,000 firefighters, 765,000 police officers, 843,000 physicians and surgeons, and more than 2.7 million registered nurses among full-time, year-round workers.
Places With Spooky Names
Some American communities don't need Halloween decorations to sound a little frightening.
There's Tombstone, Arizona, with a population of 1,376; Slaughter Beach, Delaware, with 255 residents; and Scarville, Iowa, with just 73.
Other appropriately named communities include Sleepy Hollow, New York; Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina; Bad Axe, Michigan; and Salem, Massachusetts.
And for those who prefer a friendlier ghost, there's Casper, Wyoming, with a population of 58,771.
Halloween in the Classroom
The Census Bureau's Statistics in Schools program uses Halloween as an opportunity to introduce students to population figures, employment statistics, geography and creative writing.
Its Halloween activities include researching communities with unusual names, imagining what life might be like in those places, and writing stories from the perspective of a favorite piece of candy.
The bureau also offers interactive Kahoot! games exploring fall traditions and American holidays.
Families and educators can explore the Halloween Fun Facts collection and related educational activities through the Census Bureau's Statistics in Schools program.
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