These figures are about 'keeping up with the Joneses', as the list of 'amenities' listed by the census changed over time. In 1951, five separate facilities were required, but all apart from having a cooker were about depended on water supply and sewers. Over time, the list got shorter as running water, for example, became taken for granted. From 1971 onwards, a hot water supply was required, and from 1991 central heating; in 2011, central heating was the only "amenity" covered.. Unfortunately, the census has never covered other 'consumer durables, like TVs and fridges, despite their obvious importance for lifestyles.

Unsurprisingly, the 1951 pattern was pretty much the reverse of that for households lacking WCs: the best equipped areas were in the London suburbs, while the worst were either in inner cities or rural areas lacking mains services. By 1971, the very best areas generally contained New Towns, created by the government after World war Two, with all new houses all meeting modern standards: three of the top four were Harlow (99%), Stevenage (98%) and Corby (97%).