TUCSON, AZ (April 17, 2026) — Arizona posted a strong showing in WalletHub’s 2026 ranking of the Best Large Cities to Start a Business, with seven cities making the list and six landing in the top 40. The results point to Greater Phoenix as the state’s leading startup hub, while Tucson stands out for its affordability.
Phoenix ranked highest among Arizona cities at No. 13 overall, followed by Chandler at No. 18 and Mesa at No. 20. Scottsdale placed No. 29, Gilbert No. 32, and Glendale No. 38. Tucson ranked No. 60 in the national comparison of 100 large U.S. cities.
The Arizona results show a clear split between resource-rich growth markets and lower-cost business locations. Phoenix ranked No. 16 for business environment, though it was weaker in access to resources at No. 67 and business costs at No. 46. Chandler turned in one of the state’s strongest all-around performances, ranking No. 13 for business environment and No. 22 for access to resources, though it fell to No. 73 for business costs. Mesa appeared more balanced, ranking No. 36 for business environment, No. 57 for access to resources, and No. 38 for business costs.
Scottsdale and Gilbert both scored especially well in access to resources, ranking No. 13 and No. 11, respectively. But both were pulled down by higher business costs, ranking No. 77 and No. 78 in that category. Glendale offered a somewhat more cost-competitive profile, with a No. 31 rank for business costs, though it trailed other Valley cities in business environment and access to resources.
Tucson posted a different profile from the Phoenix-area cities. While it ranked No. 79 for business environment and No. 86 for access to resources, it scored far better on business costs at No. 11. That suggests Tucson remains attractive as a lower-cost place to launch a business, even if it lacks some of the capital depth, investor presence, and startup infrastructure found in the larger Phoenix metro.
Overall, the rankings reinforce Arizona’s reputation as a favorable state for entrepreneurs, but with important differences by market. The Phoenix metro continues to lead in business scale, capital access, and startup momentum, while Tucson’s advantage appears to be affordability, which may appeal more to bootstrapped firms, local operators, and businesses focused on controlling overhead.
Read full report is here: WalletHub Best Cities To Start A Business