Memphis, Albuquerque and Stockton Face Highest Halloween Safety Risks as New York City Leads Ranking

Image generated with Ai

As Halloween approaches on 31 October 2026, families across the United States are preparing for an evening of costumes, neighbourhood celebrations and trick-or-treating. However, a new safety ranking suggests that the conditions families encounter can vary considerably between American cities.

A study released by Bearadise has examined 70 US cities to identify locations where Halloween activities may involve greater safety challenges. The research considers crime levels, nighttime walking safety, road fatalities, pedestrian accessibility and street lighting conditions.

According to the findings, Memphis, Tennessee, has the highest overall risk score, while New York City emerges as the safest city in the comparison. Boston, Massachusetts, and Henderson, Nevada, also perform strongly, reflecting differences in the factors used to assess Halloween safety.

The findings offer useful guidance for families, domestic tourists and visitors planning Halloween activities, particularly those travelling with children or exploring unfamiliar neighbourhoods after sunset.

Memphis Leads Ranking of Highest-Risk Halloween Cities

Memphis ranks first among the 70 cities analysed, recording an overall risk score of 88.16.

The city has a crime index of 78.04 and records 2.77 traffic fatalities per 10,000 residents, the highest road fatality rate included in the study.

These figures highlight two important considerations for families organising Halloween outings: personal security and road safety.

Trick-or-treating frequently involves children moving between residential properties, crossing streets and walking after dark. Roads with substantial vehicle movement, limited visibility or complicated crossings can increase the challenges faced by pedestrians.

The ranking does not mean that every neighbourhood in Memphis is unsafe. Instead, it identifies broader city-level conditions that families may wish to consider when choosing Halloween routes.

Parents visiting Memphis can reduce avoidable risks by selecting familiar residential areas, planning shorter walking routes and checking pedestrian crossings before leaving their accommodation.

Albuquerque and Stockton Follow Memphis in Risk Ranking

Albuquerque, New Mexico, takes second place with an overall risk score of 75.56.

Its crime index stands at 70.90, while the city records 1.92 traffic fatalities per 10,000 residents. Albuquerque also receives a Walk Score of 43, indicating that many everyday journeys are less convenient on foot than in highly walkable cities.

For families, this makes advance route planning particularly relevant.

Stockton, California, ranks third with an overall score of 72.07. Its crime index reaches 75.55, while its nighttime walking safety rating stands at just 14.77, the lowest among the cities examined.

The nighttime rating is particularly relevant to Halloween because celebrations commonly continue into the evening.

However, perceptions of walking safety should not be treated as direct measurements of crime experienced by trick-or-treaters. Families should consider neighbourhood-specific conditions alongside the broader ranking.

Tucson and New Orleans Complete Five Highest-Risk Cities

Tucson, Arizona, occupies fourth place with a risk score of 71.66.

The city records 2.43 traffic fatalities per 10,000 residents, the second-highest rate in the research.

The study also highlights an October 31 sunset time of 5.34pm, meaning that many Halloween activities may take place in darkness.

New Orleans, Louisiana, completes the five highest-risk cities with an overall score of 70.54.

Its crime index stands at 67.68, while its nighttime walking safety rating is 23.25. The city also records 1.57 traffic fatalities per 10,000 residents.

New Orleans is internationally recognised for its Halloween atmosphere, costume celebrations and historic neighbourhoods. However, visitors should distinguish between organised entertainment districts and residential trick-or-treating routes.

Families travelling to the city may benefit from choosing organised activities, checking local transport arrangements and avoiding unfamiliar roads with limited pedestrian infrastructure.

Five US Cities Facing the Highest Halloween Safety Risks

Source: Bearadise Halloween trick-or-treating safety study. Higher scores indicate greater relative risk within the study’s methodology.

New York City Emerges as Safest Halloween Destination

At the opposite end of the ranking, New York City records the lowest overall risk score at 29.32.

The city achieves a Walk Score of 88, the highest figure among the three safest destinations identified in the supplied findings.

New York City also records 0.26 traffic fatalities per 10,000 residents, the lowest rate among all 70 cities included in the comparison.

Its extensive pedestrian infrastructure and high walkability help explain its favourable position under the study’s scoring system.

For visiting families, walkable neighbourhoods can make it easier to explore Halloween decorations, attend community activities and travel between attractions without relying heavily on cars.

Nevertheless, visitors should remain attentive at crossings, particularly around busy junctions and areas experiencing large Halloween crowds.

Boston and Henderson Offer Strong Safety Results

Boston ranks second safest with an overall risk score of 29.85.

The Massachusetts city records 0.37 traffic fatalities per 10,000 residents and achieves a Walk Score of 83.

Its compact urban layout and pedestrian-friendly areas provide practical advantages for families exploring the city on foot.

Boston’s historic neighbourhoods, autumn scenery and seasonal cultural attractions also make it appealing for Halloween visitors seeking experiences beyond traditional trick-or-treating.

Henderson, Nevada, ranks third safest, recording an overall risk score of 31.29.

The city achieves the lowest crime index in the research at 21.32 and the highest nighttime walking safety rating at 75.08.

These results suggest relatively favourable conditions across the safety indicators examined.

Henderson’s position is particularly notable because it demonstrates that a city does not need the highest walkability score to perform strongly in an overall Halloween safety comparison.

Three Safest US Cities for Halloween Trick-or-Treating

Source: Bearadise. Lower overall scores represent lower relative risk under the study’s assessment.

Why Traffic Safety Matters During Halloween Celebrations

One of the central findings of the research is the importance of traffic conditions when families choose Halloween routes.

Children may become distracted by elaborate decorations, costumes, neighbourhood gatherings and excitement while moving between houses.

Reduced visibility after sunset can create additional challenges, particularly where street lighting is limited or pedestrian crossings are difficult to navigate.

Christian, a spokesperson for Bearadise, encouraged parents to prioritise traffic awareness when organising Halloween outings.

The spokesperson advised families to choose familiar streets, review walking routes beforehand and ensure younger children are accompanied by adults.

These recommendations are relevant regardless of whether a destination appears near the top or bottom of the ranking.

Reflective accessories, suitable footwear and costumes that do not obstruct vision can also help children move more comfortably and remain visible to motorists.

What the Halloween Safety Ranking Means for Travel and Tourism

Halloween has developed into an important seasonal travel occasion across the United States.

Cities attract visitors through costume parades, haunted attractions, historic ghost tours, themed entertainment and family-focused celebrations.

For tourism businesses, the Bearadise findings reinforce the importance of clear visitor information, safe pedestrian access and effective local transport planning.

Hotels and accommodation providers can support visiting families by explaining how to reach Halloween events, identifying established walking routes and providing information about local transport.

Event organisers can also consider lighting, crowd movement, clearly marked entrances and pedestrian access when planning seasonal activities.

However, the study should be interpreted carefully. Citywide crime indices, traffic fatality rates and perceptions of nighttime safety do not establish the probability of a child experiencing an incident during trick-or-treating.

The research also does not provide neighbourhood-level risk assessments or evidence that Halloween itself causes higher crime or traffic fatalities in the cities ranked.

Its value lies in helping travellers identify factors worth examining before making plans.

“Halloween is a wonderful celebration that brings families, communities and travellers together through creativity, cultural traditions and shared experiences. Research highlighting safety considerations across American cities provides an important opportunity to make these celebrations more enjoyable and accessible for everyone.

The strong performance of New York City, Boston and Henderson demonstrates the value of pedestrian-friendly environments, responsible urban planning and public awareness in supporting family tourism.

At the same time, destinations facing greater challenges can use these findings to strengthen visitor guidance, improve pedestrian accessibility and encourage safer community celebrations.

The travel and tourism industry has an important responsibility to help families make informed decisions without diminishing the excitement associated with Halloween.

By promoting well-organised activities, reliable local information and thoughtful travel planning, destinations across the United States can create memorable Halloween experiences that combine seasonal excitement, community participation and greater confidence for visitors of all ages.” — Anup Kumar Keshan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Travel And Tour World

How Families Can Plan Safer Halloween Travel

Families travelling during Halloween should consider more than a destination’s overall ranking.

The location of accommodation, distance to celebrations, available pedestrian routes and timing of activities can all influence the experience.

Parents should check local event information, identify suitable crossing points and consider organised family celebrations where unfamiliar neighbourhoods make independent route planning difficult.

Travellers can also benefit from arranging transport in advance, particularly when Halloween events finish late in the evening.

For children, comfortable costumes and clear supervision arrangements remain important.

Ultimately, the safest Halloween experience depends not only on a city’s wider safety indicators but also on the practical decisions families make while exploring it.

The Bearadise ranking provides a starting point for those decisions, highlighting why pedestrian accessibility, traffic conditions and nighttime visibility deserve attention alongside the excitement of Halloween travel.

The Bearadise Halloween safety study places New York City, Boston and Henderson among the safest American cities, while Memphis records the highest overall risk. For families planning trick-or-treating and seasonal travel, the findings emphasise practical precautions, including pedestrian awareness, familiar routes, adult supervision and careful planning after dark.