Medicial Might

Houston's best hospital is . . . . New US News & World Report rankings see streak continue despite controversy

Many Houston hospitals are in a state of change, with new owners, new names and new controversies. But when it comes to the latest US News & World Report rankings of the best hospitals in Houston, the status quo remains. In the 2013-14 rankings, released Tuesday, most of the Houston-area hospitals remain in the same top positions as the previous year's rankings.

Although it has a new name, Houston Methodist Hospital remains the No. 1 ranked hospital in the Houston area, according to the list, which is based on the number of nationally ranked and high performing medical specialties. Houston Methodist is also ranked as the No. 1 hospital in the state.

St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, which was recently sold to Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives, remains at No. 2, followed by the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (No. 3), Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center (No. 4) and the Menninger Clinic and TIRR Memorial Hermann (both tied at No. 5).

Also on the list of top regional hospitals:

UTMB (at No. 11) and Woman's Hospital (tied at No. 13) are new to the most recent list while Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital dropped off.

For the seventh year running, the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center remains the nation's No. 1 cancer hospital despite financial pressures and controversies over the state grant application process. M.D. Anderson also ranked No. 3 among the nation's hospitals for ear, nose and throat; and No. 6 in gynecology.

TIRR- Memorial Hermann remains in the No. 3 position on the list of the nation's best rehabilitation hospitals while The Menninger Clinic remains ranks No. 5 nationally among psychiatric hospitals. The Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital and Houston Methodist also remain on the list of best hospitals in the nation for cardiology and heart surgery. The Texas Heart Institute ranks at No. 10 and Houston Methodist is No. 14.

The Menninger Clinic is the nation's No. 5 ranked psychiatric hospital, according to the U.S. News rankings.

Great Gatsby" sanitarium The Menninger Clinic exterior

Photo courtesy of The Menninger Clinic

The Menninger Clinic is the nation's No. 5 ranked psychiatric hospital, according to the U.S. News rankings.

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festive cities

Houston dazzles among top 10 most festive cities in America for 2025

River Oaks Christmas Lights in Houston TX/Facebook

The River Oaks Christmas Lights are a fun place to take families.

Houston has once again landed a coveted spot on Thumbtack's annual ranking of the most festive American cities in 2025.

Home services platform Thumbtack analyzed holiday light installation requests from customers from October 2024 to 2025 to determine the most festive U.S. cities. Rankings were based on the "relative frequency" of requests after being adjusted for the population of each state and metro area.

Houston ranked as the 6th most festive U.S. city this year, dropping two spots from its former No. 4 rank in 2024.

Locals searching for inspiration for their homes can find it at the many twinkly displays illuminating Houston for the holidays, from the iconic City Lights to the rustic Dewberry Farm light show. And the holiday season is beginning earlier with every passing year, according to Thumbtack.

"Homeowners are layering their look from October through December, swapping out pumpkins for pine boughs and adding sparkle as the season unfolds," the report said.

Other festive holiday events happening around Houston include cheery pop-up bars, holiday markets, and much more. CultureMap readers can also keep up with all of Houston's holiday happenings in our special editorial series.

Other big Texas cities like Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio also all landed top-10 spots in the report, proving the Lone Star State is much more festive than the rest of the country.

"From Texas to Florida, the South is setting the standard for holiday spirit, and in true Texas fashion, bigger is definitely brighter," the report said. "Mild winters and a strong sense of community keep the Lone Star State shining at the top."

Thumbtack's top 10 most festive U.S. cities in 2024 are:

No. 1 – Austin, Texas
No. 2 – Dallas, Texas
No. 3 – Seattle, Washington
No. 4 – Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 5 – Sacramento, California
No. 6 – Houston, Texas
No. 7 – San Francisco, California
No. 8 – Charlotte, North Carolina
No. 9 – San Antonio, Texas
No. 10 – Atlanta, Georgia

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