In a new 2025 Urgent Care Pulse Check Survey, 28 percent of Houston households, surveyed between Aug. 29 and Sept. 8, 2025, said they had visited an urgent care in the past month, compared to 19 percent nationally.
Affordability plays a major role in that choice. Nearly half, or 49 percent, of respondents said they choose urgent care over other healthcare options because of low cost or insurance coverage, compared to 32 percent nationally.
What other factors are sending Houstonians to urgent care offices more frequently? Survey results indicate efficiency and expanded access are also key drivers.
About 61 percent of Houston residents said the ability to be seen quickly was the reason they turn up at urgent care. Approximately 53 percent cited convenient locations and 50 percent highlighted Urgent Care’s evening and weekend hours.
“The rapid expansion of urgent care options across the region is also shaping behavior,” the report reads.
Thirty-nine percent of Houston residents said they were more likely to visit urgent care this year because new centers have opened nearby, compared to 28 percent nationally.
Houstonians appear to have a proactive mindset when it comes to their health, which could contribute to a higher frequency of visits. More than half—57 percent—of residents said they seek care at the first sign of illness rather than delaying treatment. About 87 percent said they preferred to avoid unnecessary risk of injury or illness.
Residents also report staying active. About 53 percent of respondents said they engage in individual exercise, and about one in five said they attend fitness classes or play sports.
But, outdoor activities can lead to seasonal and environmental health concerns. Forty-one percent said they have seasonal allergies, while 24 percent deal with skin issues like rashes, bites, stings or sunburn at least once a year, compared to 14 percent nationally.
The report was commissioned by Memorial Hermann-GoHealth Urgent Care and conducted by Wakefield Research. Researchers surveyed 2,000 nationally representative U.S. adults, including 100 interviews in the Houston DMA, and the data was weighted.