America's 10 Best Cities to Celebrate Halloween in 2019

While many Americans will stay home to hand out candy or take their kids trick or treating in their own neighborhood this Halloween, some will travel the country this spooky season. Fortunately, WalletHub recently compared the 100 largest U.S. cities based on 21 key metrics spread across three major categories-including trick-or-treater friendliness, Halloween fun and Halloween weather-to determine the best places to celebrate. Among the nearly two dozen different factors analyzed were things like walk score, haunted houses per capita and forecasted Halloween precipitation. Here are this year's results.

Ranking 10th nationwide, San Jose boasts the fifth-highest percentage of potential trick-or-treat stops, making it an ideal city for families with young children. The surprising entry in this year's top 10 is up four spots from 2018.

To the northwest of San Jose, San Francisco is tied with New York City and Honolulu for the most candy and chocolate stores per capita and is also tied with Boston and Chicago for fourth in terms of the best Halloween weather forecast this year. The Bay Area is also a newcomer to WalletHub's top 10 in 2019.

No city in America beats Philadelphia when it comes to Halloween weather in 2019, and that's a big reason why it finds itself in the top 10 as Philly ranks just 25th for both trick-or-treater friendliness and Halloween fun. Like San Francisco, Philadelphia failed to make WalletHub's top 20 a year ago.

Miami ranks eighth in the country for all-important Halloween fun, a category that takes into account a destination's bars and dance clubs per capita and Miami's robust nightlife can't be denied. The South Florida hotspot is up 11 spots from 18th in 2018.

Chicago trails Miami by one spot in terms of both trick-or-treater friendliness and Halloween fun but is propelled to sixth overall by its stellar Halloween weather forecast this year. The Windy City is also on the rise in 2019, climbing from seventh a year ago.

Only New York City and Orlando top Las Vegas for Halloween fun in 2019. What's more, Sin City is tied for first for the most costume stores per capita and ranks fourth for most candy and chocolate stores per capita.

Halloween fun is San Diego's strongest category. It ranks seventh for fun and fourth overall despite ranking just 29th for both trick-or-treater friendliness and Halloween weather in 2019. America's Finest City finds itself up one spot from last year.

In addition to tying for fourth for the best Halloween weather forecast this year, Boston is among the nation's 12 best cities in terms of trick-or-treater friendliness, boasting plenty of stops for costumed revelers.

Weather is surprisingly Los Angeles' worst category this year. Nonetheless, L.A. is up one spot from last year's study and ranks fourth nationwide for Halloween fun, trailing only New York City, Orlando and Las Vegas.

The Big Apple remains America's best city for celebrating Halloween in 2019. New York City's consistent dominance is unrivaled as it ranks seventh or better in each of the three categories WalletHub analyzed, including first for Halloween fun and second for trick-or-treater friendliness.