Halloween starts about a month before October 31 on Nextdoor. 35% of neighbors begin decorating more than a month out, and 48% start shopping for supplies four to six weeks ahead. By the time Halloween week arrives, most of the neighborhood has already sorted out its costumes and turned on its lights.
We surveyed neighbors across the U.S. in August about how they plan to celebrate this year. The answers describe something closer to a standing neighborhood tradition than a shopping holiday, with 87% saying they feel more connected to their community during Halloween. Treat Map, sponsored by Reese's in the U.S., went live October 8, and it's where a lot of that planning now happens.
A third of neighbors put decorations up more than a month before Halloween, and another 52% get going two to four weeks ahead. Shopping runs on a similar clock. Nearly half buy supplies four to six weeks out, and only 15% wait until the final two weeks. Intent to shop a month or more in advance is up 41% from last year, so the early crowd is getting earlier.
What that means in practice: if you want the good costume in your size, or the inflatable that everyone else also wants, late September is when the rest of the neighborhood is already looking.
Handing out candy is the most common plan, at 73%. Decorating the house comes next at 68%, and 45% will attend or host a party. Dinner is part of the evening for a lot of households too. 45% plan to order takeout or delivery, a number that climbs to 54% among parents, and pizza is the most popular choice at 42%.
The other half of the night happens on Nextdoor. 47% of neighbors plan to use Treat Map to find a route or list their own home, and 46% will look up local Halloween events. Roughly half the neighborhood is participating at home while also looking for somewhere else to go, which is why one post about your block can change someone's whole night.
Safety and value beat brand names. 63% of neighbors want candy individually wrapped and 59% look for bulk or value sizing, while brand recognition matters to 48%. Reese's is still the single most popular favorite, named by 23% of neighbors.
Individually wrapped candy also gives parents at the door a quick answer to what exactly is in it.
Neighbors plan to spend $360 on Halloween in 2026, up 21% from last year. Decorations take the largest share at $163, ahead of $123 on costumes and $76 on candy. Decorations outranking everything else tracks with how early neighbors start putting them up.
Value drives most of the decisions. 61% of neighbors name low prices as a top factor and 45% name convenience. The most reliable purchase in the whole category is a kid's costume: 85% of parents buy new ones every year.
87% of neighbors say they feel more connected to their community during Halloween, and 90% look forward to local events. It's one of the few holidays that only works if other people participate. A costume needs somewhere to go, and a bowl of candy needs someone to ring the bell.
That shows up in what neighbors organize for themselves. Trunk-or-treats and block parties get posted on Nextdoor all through October, and 81% of neighbors say they'd be more likely to visit a local restaurant taking part in a neighborhood Halloween event.
Treat Map, sponsored by Reese's, is live now and shows which homes and local spots near you are handing out treats. Nearly half of neighbors, 47%, plan to use it this year to plan a route or add their own address. It's the map's 14th year, and it stays open through October 31.
New this year, you can filter the map for early trick-or-treating hours, or for homes handing out non-food and pet treats. Pinning your own home takes a few seconds, and Nextdoor suggests post language you can use to tell the neighbors what you're planning. Open Treat Map and add your address.
Source: Nextdoor Survey, U.S. (08/2026)