Small Forsyth County town first known as Kerner’s Crossroads
Squeezed between Greensboro and Winston-Salem, both 20 miles away, the small town of Kernersville takes pride in its welcoming atmosphere and close communal bonds. “If you’re not familiar with the Triad area, you may miss it,” says Victoria Musumeci, Recreation Administrative Specialist for Kernersville Parks & Recreation. “But once you’re here, you quickly memorize people’s faces. There’s still enough to keep you entertained within a close-knit community.”
Settled in the mid-1700s, Kernersville was originally an inn and storehouse at the intersection of two main roads. Today, it’s much more than a traveler’s rural resting point. Residents often bop around South Main Street downtown, which hosts annual events and features historic landmarks, such as Korner’s Folly, a uniquely designed Victorian home-turned-museum tied to the Kerner family, the town’s namesake.
With a growing under-40 crowd, this town of over 27,000 people is evolving, adding new cocktail bars, pop-up shops and food trucks. Manufacturing, healthcare and retail remain the main pillars of Kernersville’s economy, with major employers Novant Health Kernersville Medical Center and John Deere in town, along with dozens of smaller manufacturers from Texwipe to Grass America, Inc.
Downtown Kernersville comes alive with vibrant fall foliage.
You can enjoy live music and drinks at Breathe Event Lounge in Downtown Kernersville.
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Slight uptick in home prices and a mix of styles across Kernersville
The real estate market in central North Carolina is booming, and that’s starting to impact home prices in Kernersville, as it sits between two growing cities. In 2024, the average sale price for a Kernersville home was roughly $350,000, up 2% from 2023. However, the median home price of about $335,000 was significantly below the national median of around $410,000. On average, properties sell after nearly 50 days on the market, slightly longer than the national average of 44 days.
Modern condos mix with early 20th century bungalows and cottages in Downtown Kernersville. To the north, midcentury ranch-style homes and early 2000s vinyl-exterior New Traditional homes fill Kerners Mill. Colonial Revivals and split-levels rest along cul-de-sacs in Century Park/Smith Creek to the south. New homes are popping up on pastoral lots on the town’s perimeter.
There are a good selection of large homes with nice size yards in Kernersville.
Choices in Kernersville include 1970s 1,500 sqft ranch-style homes.
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Spending time in the South Main Street Historic District
Hanging out with friends and family in Kernersville’s downtown area is a common pastime. Red brick buildings with antique-style awnings housing boutiques, cafes and local businesses fill this historic district, which is centered around South Main Street. “Most people that come in our shop have known each other for 50 or 60 years, and they love chatting and catching up,” says Garrett Grounds, decade-long resident and barista at Kyle’s Coffee. “Once you get in the community, you get a feel for how everyone loves it down here.”
Along with holiday celebrations, the town hosts its popular three-day Spring Folly event every May near Harmon Park. Thousands of visitors come from Kernersville and surrounding areas for live music, carnival rides and shopping from dozens of local vendors lining Main and Mountain streets.
From May through October, local produce and products attract residents to the Kernersville Farmers Market, held biweekly in a wooden, open-air shelter outside Town Hall. National retailers and grocery chains fill shopping centers along South Main Street near the town’s western edge.
'Oh Baby 119' in downtown Kernersville is the top choice for locals seeking baby clothes.
You get attentive service at Musten and Crutchfield grocery store in Downtown Kernersville.
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The Kernersville Arts and Crafts Guild supports local artisans
From downtown galleries to performances by the Kernersville Little Theatre, Kernersville has a thriving arts scene, and the Kernersville Arts and Crafts Guild is at its heart. The nonprofit, created in the 1970s, supports and promotes art and creativity throughout the town. It organizes two big annual events to help artisans showcase their recent works: the Spring Folly Arts & Crafts Show, held during the Kernersville Spring Folly each May, and the Home Grown Arts Festival in August.
In downtown Kernersville, a captivating mural greets all visitors.
You can find a mural in downtown Kernersville that pays tribute to classic rock.
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Annual celebrations at Fourth of July Park and a new community center
A quarter of Kernersville residents are a 10-minute walk from a park, according to the Trust for Public Land. About a dozen green spaces dot the town, including the popular 17-acre Fourth of July Park, where residents walk asphalt trails or shoot hoops on the basketball courts. Every August, the park hosts the almost 50-year-old Honeybee Festival, where over 100 vendors sell crafts, handmade accessories and local honey. A love for nature draws visitors to the well-known Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden near the town center, which offers nine different flower and herb garden displays. Musumeci says Kernersville’s Parks and Rec Department’s “biggest, shiniest project” is the new recreation center under construction near the Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex. She anticipates a big draw from citizens and tourists when it opens in January 2025. Many of Kernersville’s recreation spaces can be used year-round. The town experiences four distinct seasons, with humid summers and mild winters.
Residents Kernersville can play soccer at the Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex.
You can enjoy the beauty of Paul J Ciener Botanical Garden in Kernersville.
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Winston Salem/Forsyth County Schools inspires future authors
Winston Salem/Forsyth County Schools serves Kernersville. The district, one of the largest in North Carolina with roughly 53,000 students in its 81 schools, earns an overall A-minus rating from Niche. Its partnership with Forsyth Technical Community College, which has a center in town, allows students to earn college credit. Kernersville hosts the B-rated East Forsyth High, which features the NAF Academy of Finance, providing students with a foundation in business and accounting.
Alternatively, the town is home to The North Carolina Leadership Academy, an A-minus-rated public charter school, and the A-plus-rated Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, which Niche ranks as the second-best Catholic high school in the state.
Kernersville Middle School has an overall grade of B from Niche.
Kernersville Elementary has 700 students with a 14:1 student-to-teacher ratio.
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Crime rates increasing, but residents feel at ease
According to FBI data, property crime in Kernersville increased by less than 10% from 2022 to 2023. However, violent crime rose by about 20%. Data shows that the town’s crime rates remain high compared to state and national figures. Still, Grounds says he’s never felt uneasy living here, adding that it’s quiet most of the time. Kernersville Police Department offers a few options for those wanting more safety assurance; the Security Assessments program lets residents have an officer evaluate their home to see how to reduce the risk of burglary or break-ins.
Accessing the rest of the Piedmont Triad
While the downtown area is walkable, most people drive to get around town and commute across the Triad. Interstate 40 runs through the southern part of Kernersville, leading to Greensboro to the east and Winston-Salem to the west. U.S. Route 421 provides an alternate route. Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) operates the Kernersville Express route, picking up passengers at six available stops across town. Riders can reach destinations such as Novant Health Kernersville Medical Center, the town’s Amazon Fulfillment Center and Piedmont Triad International Airport, roughly 12 miles east. Traffic can be heavy along Main Street during peak commute times.
Downtown Kernersville features local restaraunts, bars, and parks.
A historic landmark in downtown Kernersville is the Southern Railcar.
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