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Living in
Kernersville.
About
Life in Kernersville
If you're considering Kernersville as a place to settle, you're looking at a stable, growing suburb with solid job prospects and reasonable housing costs compared to many similar towns. The median home value sits around $291,000 with median rent at about $1,082, which is middle-of-the-road for the region, and the unemployment rate is low at 3.5%. Your commute matters here—the average is 23 minutes, and you'll likely need a car since this is a suburban area, but the I-40 and I-74 interchange just west of town opens up job markets across the Piedmont Triad.
Kernersville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.6%
Foreign-Born
6.9%
Broadband Internet
92.7%
of households
Population Growth
+9.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Kernersville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Kernersville, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (29.1%), and 10.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.4%
of residents
65 and Older
17.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.1%
of households
Married Couples
42.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.19
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 12% below NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Kernersville
In Kernersville, rent runs 12% below the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,732
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1995
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $319,267 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NC
Unemployment in Kernersville
Unemployment in Kernersville is close to the NC average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Kernersville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.6 min avg
How Kernersville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Kernersville, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 76% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)
Small hub1.0M passengers boarded in 2025
- 74 mi
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Medium hub7.7M passengers boarded in 2025
- 79 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 31% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Kernersville runs 31% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
228.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,785.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Kernersville Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
91.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Forsyth County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Forsyth County, which includes Kernersville, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $160,000 |
| 2024 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $41,000 |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $90,000 |
| 2022 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2021 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $151,500 |
| 2020 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.8M |
| 2019 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $39,000 |
| 2018 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $871,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Forsyth County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Forsyth County, which includes Kernersville, is typically good — 232 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
232
per year
Moderate Days
133
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Forsyth County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 32°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Kernersville has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 32°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
70°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
52°/32°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.9"
Annual Snowfall
7.1"
Hot Days/Year
33
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
69
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 30°F | 3.39" |
| Feb | 53°F | 33°F | 2.81" |
| Mar | 61°F | 39°F | 3.72" |
| Apr | 71°F | 48°F | 3.78" |
| May | 78°F | 57°F | 3.49" |
| Jun | 85°F | 65°F | 4.09" |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 4.18" |
| Aug | 87°F | 68°F | 4.36" |
| Sep | 80°F | 62°F | 4.59" |
| Oct | 71°F | 49°F | 3.10" |
| Nov | 61°F | 39°F | 3.27" |
| Dec | 52°F | 33°F | 3.17" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Kernersville
Uninsured
7.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Kernersville's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
North Carolina Baptist Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.6 mi away · Winston-Salem
High Point Regional Health System
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.6 mi away · High Point
Novant Health Medical Park Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 12 mi away · Winston-Salem
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Kernersville
Kernersville's student/teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 37.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
37.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Kernersville (within 15 miles)
Forsyth Technical Community College
10.9 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 7,113 students · in-state tuition $2,276 · 36% graduate · median earnings $40,074 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,485 students · in-state tuition $70,332 · 91% graduate · median earnings $104,443 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,129 students · in-state tuition $49,146 · 65% graduate · median earnings $73,547 (10 yrs after entry)
Winston-Salem State University
8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 4,170 students · in-state tuition $6,098 · 56% graduate · median earnings $52,558 (10 yrs after entry)
Strayer University-North Carolina
11.8 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 2,671 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 12% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,001 students · in-state tuition $42,320 · 49% graduate · median earnings $52,803 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Kernersville
Kernersville has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
14 mi awayBooker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
72 mi awayKings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
99 mi awayOvermountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Kernersville
Paddison Memorial Branch Library
248 Harmon Lane, Kernersville
Cities Near Kernersville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Kernersville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Kernersville FAQ
Is Kernersville, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Kernersville's median rent is $1,082/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $71,918/year. Median home value is $290,700.
Is Kernersville, North Carolina safe?⌄
Kernersville's violent crime rate was 228 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2785 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Kernersville, North Carolina?⌄
Kernersville has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Kernersville, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Kernersville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,082/month and median household income is $71,918/year. The median home value is $290,700. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Kernersville, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Kernersville is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from