Residents of Arizona's more affluent cities appear to cherish their lifestyle despite the financial costs associated with it. In a recent survey by CardRates.com, Gold Canyon, Fountain Hills, and Queen Creek emerged as the state's happiest municipalities. Remarkably, while Fountain Hills was no slouch at number 50, Gold Canyon hit an impressive number 17 among the top 150 wealth centers in America, according to Phoenix Business Journal.
The survey focused on residents' satisfaction with their quality of life and the benefits of their location, rather than just their income. However, a separate analysis by GOBankingRates suggests that to be happy in Arizona, you might need an income of $115,500, which is higher than the state's median household income of $74,568 in 2022, as stated by AZ Central.
The happiness index was not solely about financial capabilities but also factored in the satisfaction with local amenities. Among the surveyed, 38% valued quality schools and a family-friendly atmosphere as key contributors to their contentment. On the flip side, a steep 60% lamented high housing costs in their cities, with a sizable portion also concerned about the price tag on goods and services or the lack of affordable amenities.
Turning to the bigger financial picture, the GOBankingRates study lifted figures from earlier research suggesting that the optimal income for happiness in North America stood at $105,000. Adjusting that number to the Arizona living standard, apparently only 14 states require a higher income to meet the happiness threshold. In Hawaii, where happiness seems to be the most expensive at $188,160, residents likely face similar financial decisions, as reported by AZ Central. Despite some Arizonan cities garnering accolades for their blissful atmospheres, the state overall was only the 25th happiest according to GOBankingRates.
