With 27,830 people, Kernersville is a city in North Carolina. Since 2000 the city has risen by half, up 10,704 people. 7% of people here were born outside the United States. There are 1,482 people per square mile. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $290,700. Median household income is $71,918, under the $82,259 national median.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $71,918, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.3
US median: 38.9
Average education
37% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 32%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Kernersville
What changed most since 1990
Population10,836 → 27,830(+157%)US over the same years: +35%
Homes owned by their occupants42.9% → 60.5%(+17.6 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Black share5.6% → 17.5%(+11.9 pts)US over the same years: +0.2 pts
Kernersville's population equals 7.1% of Forsyth County's. Its number of households without a car equals 5.0% of the county's. Its number of foreign-born residents equals 5.1% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)38.7%(639)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)22.1%(366)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era30.1%(498)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.1%(18)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.5%(9)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 1,653 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Kernersville, decade by decade
Kernersville population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
10,836
$61,559
$194,166
17.0%
19.0
2000
17,126
$75,635
$220,420
25.9%
40.5
2010
23,123
$71,029
$235,494
28.1%
53.4
2020
26,449
$69,075
$238,044
32.0%
64.6
2024
27,830
$71,918
$290,700
37.0%
67.4
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
How many people live in Kernersville, North Carolina?
Kernersville, North Carolina has about 27,830 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Kernersville, North Carolina?
The typical household in Kernersville, North Carolina earns about $71,918 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Kernersville, North Carolina expensive?
In Kernersville, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $290,700, and the typical rent is about $1,082 a month.
How educated are people in Kernersville, North Carolina?
About 37.0% of adults age 25 and over in Kernersville, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Kernersville, North Carolina?
About 12.6% of people in Kernersville, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Kernersville, North Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Kernersville, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 16,994 residents, a change of about 157 percent over that period.
