How much does it cost to rent in Kernersville, NC?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Kernersville, NC is $1,797. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Kernersville cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

Kernersville falls in the middle range for North Carolina, ranking #48 out of 126 cities at $1,797/mo.

When was Kernersville rent data last updated?

Kernersville rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · NC

Kernersville

Name: Average Rent Prices in Kernersville, NC
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 27,830·48th most expensive in North Carolina·Kernersville rents are up 10.6% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,797/mo

Year-over-Year

+10.6%

Month-over-Month

+6.7%

vs US Median

-$168

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Kernersville · $1,797

More affordable than 54% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

54/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Kernersville's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$1,797/mo

Expected by trend

$1,832/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Kernersville's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,010

1 BR

$1,060

2 BR

$1,240

3 BR

$1,630

4 BR+

$1,910

Research median

$1,240/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$21,564/yr

At $1,797/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 10.6% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+10.6% YoY, +6.7% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Kernersville, NC is majority owner-occupied, 37% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

27,830

Median income

$71,918

Median age

39.3

Renters

39.5%

Age distribution

22.4%

22.2%

24.6%

13.1%

17.6%

Under 1822.4%

18–3422.2%

35–5424.6%

55–6413.1%

65+17.6%

Gender

48.2%

51.8%

Male48.2%

Female51.8%

Race & ethnicity

65.8%

17.8%

13.7%

White65.8%

Black17.8%

Hispanic13.7%

Asian2%

Other0.8%

Education (25+)

24.1%

31.7%

37%

No HS diploma7.2%

HS diploma24.1%

Some college31.7%

Bachelor's+37%

Housing tenure

60.5%

39.5%

Owner60.5%

Renter39.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Kernersville, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,204 → $1,797

up 49.3%

Income

$60,718 → $71,918

up 18.4%

Population

26,376 → 27,830

up 5.5%

Renter share

46.7% → 39.5%

-7.2 pts

Bachelor's+

33.9% → 37%

+3.1 pts

Median age

40.4 → 39.3

-1.1 yrs

Rent in Kernersville, NC has increased 49.3% since 2021, going from about $1,204 per month to roughly $1,797 today. Median household income grew from $60,718 to $71,918 between 2021 and 2024, a 18.4% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 30.9 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 26,376 to 27,830 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.5% change. About 39.5% of households rent today, against 46.7% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 33.9% to 37%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Kernersville, NC reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Kernersville

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View Kernersville rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Kernersville on your salary?

At $1,797/mo, how Kernersville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $88,811/yr · Rent = 24.3% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,055/yr · Rent = 34.2% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $72,634/yr · Rent = 29.7% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $129,823/yr · Rent = 16.6% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $165,882/yr · Rent = 13% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,041/yr · Rent = 36.5% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $53,307/yr · Rent = 40.5% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $65,706/yr · Rent = 32.8% income

stretched

By apartment size

Kernersville rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Kernersville. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Kernersville

About renting in Kernersville, NC

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Kernersville is $1,797/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,010/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,240/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,060/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,630/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($71,918/yr), Kernersville ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 10.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Kernersville an affordable city for renters?

Kernersville is considered moderate for renters. At $1,797/mo, rent takes approximately 30% of the local median household income ($71,918/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Kernersville slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Kernersville?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $72,000/year (~$35/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,797/mo in Kernersville. The local median household income is $71,918/yr, meaning the typical Kernersville household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Kernersville?

Rent in Kernersville has increased 10.6% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Kernersville rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?

Kernersville is middle-of-the-pack for North Carolina for rent, ranking #48 out of 126 tracked cities at $1,797/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Kernersville?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Kernersville ($1,797/mo): Thomasville ($1,180/mo), Archdale ($1,391/mo), High Point ($1,401/mo).

What percentage of Kernersville residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 39.5% of Kernersville households are renters, while 60.5% are owner-occupied. Kernersville leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Kernersville rent compare to the national average?

Kernersville's median rent of $1,797/mo is $168 (9%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #48 out of 126 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

30%

MODERATE

At $1,797/mo, rent takes ~30% of Kernersville's median household income ($71,918/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Kernersville 30%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.5%

Run the Kernersville affordability calculator →

Nearby cities