HOUSTON – Getting back into everyday routines after the holiday break can be stressful, and for many people in Houston, that stress appears to be especially high.
A new study from Compare the Market ranks Houston as the fourth most anxious city in the United States, based on online search activity related to anxiety.
Researchers analyzed Google search data from the past year to determine where anxiety-related concerns are most prevalent.
According to the study, Houston residents searched for “anxiety symptoms” about 23,000 times, one of the highest totals nationwide.
The findings suggest elevated levels of anxiety among Houstonians compared to residents in most other major U.S. cities.
How Houston compares nationwide
Houston ranked behind only three cities:
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New York City (55,200 searches)
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Los Angeles (30,300)
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Chicago (23,700)
Houston placed ahead of cities such as Atlanta, Dallas, San Antonio, and Las Vegas.
Texas cities dominate the list
The study also shows Texas cities appearing frequently among the top rankings. In addition to Houston, Dallas ranked sixth with 12,680 searches, while San Antonio ranked ninth with 12,000 searches.
The Compare the Market analysis focused on how often people searched for the phrase “anxiety symptoms”, using search volume as an indicator of concern rather than formal diagnoses.
Researchers note that higher search activity may reflect increased stress, uncertainty, or awareness of mental health issues rather than clinical anxiety rates alone.
Houston’s high ranking highlights how common anxiety-related concerns may be among residents, especially during times of transition and stress.
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