A yearlong National Geographic study placed three of America's 25 happiest cities in Fairfield County.

The metropolitan area including Stamford, Bridgeport and Norwalk scored eighth place on the list.

National Geographic credited "endless cultural experiences," financial security, vacation time, civic engagement and even dental checkups.

The area has everything from waterways to forests, says Thomas Madden, Stamford's director of economic development. 

"You're able to go kayaking one day, and you're able to go hiking the next day," Madden says.

The area features a number of shops, restaurants and waterways -- and is home to one of the largest concentrations of corporations in the country -- all draws to the region, according to Madden.

"We have a lot of Fortune 500 companies, Global 500 companies," he says. "As well as smaller support companies."

"We have hundreds of volunteers at our concerts, that is civic engagement at its most exemplary," says Sandy Goldstein, of the Stamford Downtown organization, which hosts popular events throughout the year.

For its part, Stamford has a population of almost 130,000 and more than 300 restaurants.

"It's a beautiful and peaceful town," says Yibo Wen, a student at the University of Connecticut in Stamford. "I like the warm feeling of Stamford."