Hidden Springs Tree Farm, a family-owned outfit in Atascadero, California, is an idyllic place to pick up a Christmas tree. There are thousands of options to choose from, each of them sturdy, sustainable, and organic (because, trees). The scenic backdrop makes for a great Instagram photo, and perhaps most important: They serve customers free hot apple cider.
Olivia Dobbs—the assistant manager and granddaughter of the Hidden Springs founders Fred and Wanda Frank—says operations like her family’s have seen a resurgence of interest in recent years, especially among customers looking to recreate the choose-and-cut Christmas-tree experience they grew up with. Prices are on the rise.
This trend’s not particular to this tree farm in California. According to data from financial-services company Square, tree prices increased 17% between 2015 and 2017, with the average price rising to $73 from $64 over that time period.
Quartz’s analysis of tree prices shows they can also be pretty fluid, just like that hot apple cider. So whether you’re a West Coast deal-digger or cash-strapped Brooklyn millennial, use our calculator to find the best price for your needs.