Stress is a natural human experience, “an automatic response developed in our ancient ancestors as a way to protect them from predators and other threats,” according to the American Psychological Association.

Fortunately, four Valley cities were ranked among the 15 least stressed cities in the United States.

Peoria was named 2017’s ninth least-stressed city in the country, according to a city news release.

To determine where Americans cope best with their stress, WalletHub, a personal finance outlet, compared the 150 largest cities across 30 key metrics such as job security, physical activity, crime rate and household income.

The report also named Scottsdale as third least-stressed, Gilbert as seventh least-stressed and Chandler as eleventh least-stressed in the nation.

“Many characteristics that make Peoria an exceptional community – such as low crime rates, many housing options, and outstanding public amenities – contribute to the wonderful quality of life that we enjoy every day,” stated Mayor Cathy Carlat in the news release. “By keeping the well-being of our residents at the forefront of every decision that we make, we are proud to contribute to an environment that allows our residents the opportunity to live their best lives.”