The Boston Globe reports on the latest Census figures. "Boston lost 30,107 residents in the first half of this decade, a precipitous drop that ranked the city among the biggest population losers of any major municipality in the country, according to US Census Bureau estimates to be released today."

"In May, a Globe survey of 524 people who left Massachusetts last year showed the top reasons people gave for moving was a better job, followed by the cost of housing. Economists said that the high cost of housing in Boston, compared with other US regions, is one of the main reasons people are leaving the city for more affordable housing outside the state."

And the Globe looks at the rental market. "Rents are rising around Boston for the first time in five years. The average monthly rent in Greater Boston climbed to $1,355 this spring, up 3.6 percent from a year earlier, according to a survey. The rental rate is now the highest it's been since 2001 and halts four years of declines. The national market also peaked in 2001 but has started to rise again recently, too."

"Surging mortgage rates, high home prices, and a belief that prices may tumble are driving more people to give up on or postpone buying a home and to rent instead."

"Kevin Mulrenin, a police officer in Amesbury who once built his own house and later sold it for a profit, considered buying a house or condo but said he couldn't 'get over the fact I felt I was being completely ripped off by the building industry.' So he rented a one-bedroom apartment in Amesbury."

"He currently pays $750, his half of the rent for a two-bedroom Colonial he shares. While he doesn't think house prices will crash, he said renting is his best move, because prices will fall and provide a better buying opportunity later."

"New luxury apartments with steep rents are rapidly coming on line. As luxury apartments are leased in the suburban market, they pull up average rents. In the past year, 8,730 apartments were taken by renters in Greater Boston, compared with just 1,578 the prior year, and about $20 billion in apartment projects are under construction, said Tom Meagher, president of Northeast Apartment Advisors."

"'In the face of tepid job growth and a condominium market that hasn't died,' he said, 'the fact the rental market has done this well is remarkable.'"

"Buying property 'is less attractive than it was a year ago,' said Meagher. In a housing boom, he said, people 'make sure they don't miss the train when rising prices might freeze them out of the market. It works in reverse if prices are in decline. People don't want to be a homeowner.'"