Arizona has 6 of the 30 happiest cities in America Article originally posted on AZ Big Media on August 7, 2026 Location can influence how bright or gloomy our daily lives feel. Thankfully, Arizona averages about 300 days of sunshine each year, making it one of the sunniest regions in the United States and home to six of the 30 happiest cities in America, according to an analysis from Wallethub. “Research shows that having more money only increases your happiness until you’re making at least $75,000 per year – anything more you earn likely won’t have an impact,” says Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst. “Therefore, when deciding where to live to maximize your happiness, you’ll want to pick a city that offers more than just a decent average income. The ideal city provides conditions that foster good mental and physical health, like reasonable work hours, short commutes, good weather, and caring neighbors.” For decades, researchers have explored the science of happiness and identified several core factors, including mental well-being, physical health, strong social ties, job satisfaction, and financial stability. Still, income has its limits — studies show that earning more than $75,000 a year does not lead to greater happiness. This helps explain why, despite being one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the United States ranks only 24th in the World Happiness Report. Happiness levels also vary widely across the country. As this study suggests, relocating to the right city may increase overall life satisfaction. To identify where Americans are happiest, WalletHub analyzed more than 180 of the largest U.S. cities using insights from positive-psychology research. Each city was evaluated across 29 key indicators of happiness, including depression rates, income growth, and average daily leisure time. Here are the Arizona cities that rank among the 30 happiest cities in America, along with their rankings: No. 3: Scottsdale No. 9: Gilbert No. 14: Chandler No. 20: Tempe No. 23: Peoria No. 29: Mesa To see which states combine all the necessary components of happiness, check out WalletHub’s report on the Happiest States in America.