The U.S. Census Bureau tracks extended measures of well-being in the SIPP. The SIPP’s “Extended Measures of Well-Being” topical module, on which this report is based, covers five broad domains: (1) appliances and electronic goods, such as possession of refrigerators, landline and cellular telephones, and computers; (2) housing conditions, including level of satisfaction with overall home repair, adequate living space, and sufficient privacy; (3) neighborhood conditions and
community services, such as: road conditions and the presence of abandoned buildings; satisfactory police, fire, and medical services; and attitudes towards local schools; (4) meeting basic needs, including the ability to pay bills in full, to avoid eviction, and to have sufficient food; and (5) the expectation of help, should need arise, from friends, family, and the community. For this report, extended measures of well-being are used to describe living conditions in the United States for the time period 1992–2003.