Most　thermal　comfort　studies　classify　towns　as　rural　areas　and　compare　them　with　cities,　dismissing　the　unique　thermal　characteristics　of　towns.　A　comparative　study　on　thermal　comfort　in　cities,　rural　areas,　and　towns　based　on　their　original　definitions　is　required.　This　study　aims　to　determine　the　differences　between　indoor　thermal　environment　and　human　thermal　comfort　in　residential　buildings　in　cities,　towns,　and　rural　areas.　This　four-month　investigation　was　conducted　in　Bayannur　City　using　a　survey　with　141　participants.　The　survey　responses　were　combined　with　environmental　measurements,　and　the　data　analysis　showed　that　the　participants’　clothing　insulation　was　distributed　over　a　wider　range　for　towns　(0.3–0.9　clo)　and　rural　areas　(0.9–1.5　clo)　than　for　cities　(0.3–0.6　clo).　The　acceptable　operative　temperature　ranges　of　city,　town,　and　rural　area　residents　were　20.9–28.0,　17.7–23.3,　and　15.1–21.6　,　respectively.　Although　the　operative　temperature　of　residential　buildings　in　those　areas　differed　by　5–10　°C,　all　participants　expected　a　warmer　indoor　thermal　environment.　City　residents　who　can　adapt　to　varying　conditions　can　restore　thermal　comfort　more　easily　than　town　and　rural　area　residents.　©　2022　Elsevier　B.V.