Halloween in New York is a big deal. Brownstone stoops get covered in cobwebs, whole blocks build elaborate haunted displays, and kids in costume fill the sidewalks before sunset.

What makes a great trick-or-treating neighborhood? Walkable blocks, front stoops and doors at street level, neighbors who get into the spirit, and a family-friendly crowd. Here are our favorite spots this year, plus what it's like to live there the other 364 days.

Park Slope, Brooklyn

Park Slope may be the best-known Halloween neighborhood in the city. Its tree-lined side streets between Prospect Park and Seventh Avenue are packed with brownstones, and many owners go all out with skeletons, fog machines and full haunted stoops. The neighborhood also has a long-running children's Halloween parade, and shops along Fifth and Seventh Avenues often hand out treats too.

Living here: Park Slope is a top pick for families year-round. You get Prospect Park, highly rated public schools and an easy commute to Manhattan. The housing mix includes classic brownstones, co-ops and new condos.

Brooklyn Heights & Cobble Hill

Gas lamps, 19th-century rowhouses and quiet, narrow streets make Brooklyn Heights look like a Halloween movie set. Streets like Willow, Pierrepont and Garden Place get lots of trick-or-treaters. Next door, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens have the same brownstone charm and front-yard decorations, at a slightly calmer pace.

Living here: These are some of Brooklyn's most historic and in-demand neighborhoods. The Brooklyn Heights Promenade, Brooklyn Bridge Park and a one-stop subway ride to Lower Manhattan help homes here keep their value.

West Village & Upper West Side, Manhattan

West Village: Winding streets like Bank, Perry and Grove are lined with townhouses that go all out for Halloween. It's also home to the Village Halloween Parade, so the whole neighborhood feels festive.

Upper West Side: West 69th Street between Broadway and Central Park West is famous for its block-long Halloween celebration, and it draws huge crowds every year. The brownstone side streets between Central Park and Riverside Park are great for trick-or-treating too.

Living here: The West Village offers charm, great food and prewar character. The Upper West Side mixes classic co-ops with family-size apartments, two big parks and some of Manhattan's most sought-after school zones.

Forest Hills Gardens, Queens & Riverdale, Bronx

Forest Hills Gardens: With its Tudor-style homes, private winding streets and old-fashioned lampposts, this neighborhood has a storybook feel. Its single-family houses with front walkways are the closest thing to suburban trick-or-treating in the five boroughs.

Riverdale: Spread over hills above the Hudson, Riverdale has leafy streets and big detached homes. Pockets like Fieldston turn into Halloween favorites for families from across the Bronx.

Living here: Both neighborhoods give you more space, more green and a quieter pace. They're a good fit if you want a house and a yard while staying in the city. For more neighborhoods like these, see our post on Quiet NYC Neighborhoods.

Bonus: The Village Halloween Parade + Quick Safety Tips

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so expect bigger crowds than usual. The 53rd Village Halloween Parade starts at 7:00 PM on October 31 and goes up Sixth Avenue from Canal Street to 15th Street. This year's theme is "Body & Soul." Anyone in costume can march, and thousands of New Yorkers do.

Tips for a smooth night:

• Go early. The best blocks are busiest from about 4 to 7 PM, and some neighbors run out of candy by dark.
• Add reflective tape or a glow stick to costumes for crossing busy avenues.
• Look for decorated stoops. In NYC, a lit-up, decorated stoop is the universal sign that treats are inside.
• Use the subway or walk. Parking near popular blocks is nearly impossible on Halloween night.

Find Your Own Halloween Block

The neighborhoods that shine on Halloween usually have the qualities families want all year: walkable streets, friendly neighbors, good parks and a real sense of community. If you've ever passed a beautifully decorated stoop and thought "I could live here," maybe it's time to make that happen.

The FIND Real Estate team knows these neighborhoods block by block. Reach out to start your search, and next year the trick-or-treaters could be knocking on your door.

Happy Halloween, New York!