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City · 27,830 residents · Forsyth County, North Carolina

Kernersville , North Carolina

In Kernersville, a typical home is worth $290,700 and typical rent is $1,082 a month. Compared with all of Forsyth County, the typical home value is 16% higher and typical household income is 7% higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $290,700

    16% above the county

    About the same as North Carolina

    • Kernersville
    • Forsyth
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $1,082a month

    About the same as the county

    12% below North Carolina

    • Kernersville
    • Forsyth
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $71,918a year

    7% above the county

    About the same as North Carolina

    • Kernersville
    • Forsyth
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    61%

    3 points below the county

    6 points below North Carolina

    • Kernersville
    • Forsyth
    • North Carolina

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$319,267
0.8% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,706 a month
3% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Kernersville is in Forsyth County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Forsyth County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Kernersville apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Winston-Salem, the typical home value is $233,800: 20% less than in Kernersville ($290,700).

  2. The typical home in Kernersville is worth $290,700, 16% more than in Forsyth County as a whole ($250,400).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Kernersville

What homes there are in Kernersville, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Kernersville, 5 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Forsyth County, 7.

Year built

Here half of the homes date from 1995 or later; in Forsyth County, from 1984 or later.

There are fewer big homes in Kernersville than in Forsyth County: 56% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 62%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in Kernersville sit under the FHA limit for Forsyth County ($541,287): about 94%.

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Kernersville cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,332): about 66%.

With a mortgage

$1,653 a month

Forsyth County: $1,500 a month

Without a mortgage

$566 a month

Forsyth County: $478 a month

Owners with a mortgage

65%

Forsyth County: 63%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Kernersville is $1,653 a month, more than in Forsyth County ($1,500); without one, $566.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Kernersville rose 60%; in Forsyth County, it rose 57%.

Rents in Kernersville rose at about the same pace as in Forsyth County: 36% since 2015–2019, against 35%.

To compare: typical income in Kernersville rose 39%; the home, +60%; the rent, +36%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureKernersvilleForsyth CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy 5.2%7.5%7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.0%1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.3%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.192.372.442.53
Drive alone 80%74%72%69%
Carpool 6%8%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%2%3%
Work from home 13%15%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

The rental vacancy rate in Kernersville is 5.2%, lower than in Forsyth County (7.5%).

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.19 on average, against 2.37 in Forsyth County.

In Kernersville, 80% of workers drive alone to work; in Forsyth County, 74%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Kernersville?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Kernersville, worth $290,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 40% of the typical household income in Kernersville, which is $71,918 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $103,331 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Forsyth County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Kernersville. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $10,175 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,411

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$285,434
Total interest
$410,673
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,909 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,678 a month

  • Tight

    $1,678 to $2,158 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,158 a month

    Your payment · 40%

Compared with the typical household income in Kernersville ($71,918 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,411
Principal & interest$1,934
Property tax$228
Home insurance$121
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$129

You need at least $10,175 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Kernersville and Forsyth County

Kernersville is in Forsyth County, North Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Kernersville's own numbers

Typical home value
$290,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,082
Typical yearly household income
$71,918
Households that own their home
61%
Effective property tax rate
0.94%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Forsyth County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,332
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+62%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Forsyth County.

Everything about Forsyth County

Buying

Buying a home in Kernersville

A typical home in Kernersville is worth $290,700: 16% above the county and about the same as North Carolina. With the typical household income in Kernersville ($71,918 a year), a typical home costs 4.0 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Kernersville 4.0 years
  • Forsyth 3.7 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Forsyth County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Forsyth County rose 101% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Forsyth County.

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.5% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +62% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +101% +107% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Kernersville next to Forsyth County, North Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Kernersville $290,700
  • Forsyth $250,400
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Kernersville $1,082
  • Forsyth $1,098
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Kernersville $71,918
  • Forsyth $67,165
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Kernersville next to Forsyth County and North Carolina
Measure Kernersville Forsyth County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $290,700 $250,400 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,082 $1,098 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $71,918 $67,165 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 61% 64% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,732 $1,984 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.94% 0.79% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 46% 49% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Forsyth County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Kernersville

For a typical $290,700 home in Kernersville, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Kernersville's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,411a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $10,175
    Cash to close
    $18,896
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $129

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,358a month

    Down payment
    $14,535
    Cash to close
    $23,256
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $138

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,924a month

    Down payment
    $58,140
    Cash to close
    $66,861
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,193a month

    Down payment
    $43,605
    Cash to close
    $52,326
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Kernersville and for Forsyth County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Kernersville

0.94%of the home’s value each year

$2,732 a year for the typical owner in Kernersville.

  • Kernersville 0.94%
  • Forsyth 0.79%
  • North Carolina 0.66%

What North Carolina publishes Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion (North Carolina General Assembly (statute))

Exemptions and deadlines in North Carolina

Flood risk in Forsyth County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Forsyth County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.4%
474
Of those, with NFIP insurance
45%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.4% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 45% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Kernersville

Typical rent in Kernersville is $1,082 a month: about the same as the county. In Kernersville, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Forsyth County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,332 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $25.62 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Forsyth County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,079 $20.75 $43,160
1 bedroom $1,224 $23.54 $48,960
2 bedrooms $1,332 $25.62 $53,280
3 bedrooms $1,754 $33.73 $70,160
4 bedrooms $2,135 $41.06 $85,400

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Kernersville

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Kernersville is in ZIP code 27284.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,450: $118 more than the fair market rent for Forsyth County ($1,332).

  • 27284 $1,450$1,910

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Kernersville when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Kernersville

HUD lists 7 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Kernersville. These are the largest.

  • Wynnfield Court 434 W Bodenhamer St, Kernersville 27284 104 low-income homes · 1 bd: 20 · 2 bd: 72 · 3 bd: 12 · In service since 1990 · For families
  • Village East Apartments 112 Chaucer Manor Cir, Kernersville 27284 96 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · 2 bd: 64 · In service since 1989 · For families
  • Friar Woods Apartments 203 Friar Woods Ct, Kernersville 27284 84 low-income homes · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 48 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 2016 · For families
  • Koerner Place 812 Birch Ln, Kernersville 27284 80 low-income homes · For older adults (336) 996-5841
  • Lyons Walk Apts West Mountain Street, Kernersville 27284 72 low-income homes · 2 bd: 48 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 2001 · For families

See all 83 buildings in Forsyth County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Kernersville

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 3 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Forsyth County; 3 say they serve in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Kernersville

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Kernersville or Forsyth County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Kernersville the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Carolina

  • NC Home Advantage Mortgage

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment

    Statewide in North Carolina

    A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Kernersville

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Kernersville, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • CCCS of Greater Greensboro

    1401 Long Street, High Point · 10 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (336) 889-6108

  • Financial Pathways of the Piedmont

    7820 North Point Boulevard, Suite 100, Winston Salem · 11 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    336-896-1191-1102

  • Financial Pathways of the Piedmont - Winston-Salem Office

    7820 North Point Blvd, Suite #100, Winston Salem · 11 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    336-773-0286-104

Every agency in Forsyth County All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Kernersville

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Kernersville

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Forsyth County is named for Kernersville or Forsyth County.

2 other authorities have an office in Forsyth County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Forsyth County

These cities are also in Forsyth County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Forsyth County Housing in North Carolina

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Kernersville, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Forsyth County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Kernersville.

All guides
A smiling girl holds up a small mushroom she found on a forest outing.

Questions

Housing questions about Kernersville

Short answers with the numbers for Kernersville and all of Forsyth County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Kernersville?

The typical home value in Kernersville is $290,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Forsyth County it is $250,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Kernersville?

Typical rent in Kernersville is $1,082 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Forsyth County is $1,332.

What is the FHA loan limit in Kernersville?

Kernersville uses the FHA limit for all of Forsyth County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Kernersville?

The typical homeowner in Kernersville pays $2,732 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.94% of the home’s value; in Forsyth County, the rate is 0.79%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Kernersville?

There are 3 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Forsyth County. 3 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).