How to score the most Halloween candy with the fewest steps

WASHINGTON — Finally, a way for trick-or-treaters to figure how to get the most Halloween candy in the shortest period of time, with the fewest wasted steps.

For generations, young people have attempted to calculate where they should circulate on Oct. 31 in pursuit of large amounts of candy.

Not surprisingly, a real estate company has concluded the answer to the age-old is location, location, location.

In compiling its yearly list of the 20 best cities for trick-or-treating list, Zillow says its researchers look at home values, how close houses are to each other, the crime rate and the percentage of people in a neighborhood who are under 10 years old.

Overall, Washington, D.C. is back in Zillow’s Top 20, at the number 20 spot. Baltimore scores even higher, at number 13.

Using its formula, ranks American University Park as the District’s top neighborhood for trick-or-treating, given the number of single-family homes in a small area, many inhabited by families with young children.

The best D.C. neighborhoods for safe candy-gathering, according to the list:

1. American University Park
2. Chevy Chase (D.C.)
3. Friendship Heights (D.C)
4. Kalorama
5. Georgetown

Here’s Zillow’s 2016 list of Best Cities to Trick-or-Treat:

1. Philadelphia
2. San Jose
3. San Francisco
4. Milwaukee
5. Los Angeles
6. Phoenix
7. Denver
8. Portland
9. Seattle
10. Columbus
11. Las Vegas
12. Baltimore
13. Dallas
14. San Diego
15. Charlotte
16. Austin
17. Albuquerque
18. Chicago
19. Nashville
20. Washington, D.C.