The Town FilesKernersville, North Carolina
Town in Forsyth County · population 26,449 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $290,700
- Household income
- $71,918
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 39.3
Kernersville is a town of 26,449 people in Forsyth County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $290,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 91% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 91% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 89% of North Carolina towns.
How Kernersville ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Kernersville is worth $290,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $71,918, which is more affordable than 44% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,082 a month. 60.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kernersville | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $290,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,082 | $969 |
| Median household income | $71,918 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 60.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Kernersville
| People | Kernersville | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.6% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.9% | — |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Kernersville
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 30.1°F. About 44.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kernersville since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 28, 2010 about 6.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 45 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 28, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 14, 1984.
Severe weather in Forsyth County since 1996
Forsyth County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Forsyth County
Forsyth County had 192,587 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,257 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Kernersville itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Kernersville
13 public schools with 10,833 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Forsyth High | 9-12 | 1,690 | 16.7 |
| Robert B Glenn High School | 9-12 | 1,467 | 16.1 |
| NC Leadership Charter Academy (charter) | K-12 | 1,170 | 18.9 |
| East Forsyth Middle School | 6-8 | 756 | 15.1 |
| Kernersville Middle | 6-8 | 754 | 16.8 |
| Sedge Garden Elementary | PK-5 | 734 | 14.4 |
| Southeast Middle | 6-8 | 726 | 15.4 |
| Caleb's Creek Elementary | PK-5 | 656 | 14.9 |
| Piney Grove Elementary | PK-5 | 625 | 14.2 |
| Kernersville Elementary | PK-5 | 614 | 12.8 |
| Colfax Elementary | PK-5 | 582 | 14.9 |
| Cash Elementary | PK-5 | 532 | 14.4 |
Towns near Kernersville
- Walkertown, NC5.7 mi · 5,692 people · home $236,900
- Oak Ridge, NC6.9 mi · 7,474 people · home $529,300
- Wallburg, NC8.0 mi · 3,051 people · home $343,700
- High Point, NC9.4 mi · 114,059 people · home $235,800
- Winston-Salem, NC10.0 mi · 249,545 people · home $233,800
- Stokesdale, NC10.2 mi · 5,924 people · home $379,100
- Jamestown, NC11.1 mi · 3,668 people · home $326,800
- Midway, NC11.9 mi · 4,742 people · home $274,100
Kernersville questions
Is Kernersville, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kernersville scores better for retirees than 55% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 21%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Kernersville?
The median owner-occupied home in Kernersville is valued at $290,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,918, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,082 a month.
What is the weather like in Kernersville?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 30.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.0 inches of precipitation a year and 7.1 inches of snow.
Does Kernersville get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kernersville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 28, 2010. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)