The Town FilesAztec, New Mexico
City in San Juan County · population 6,201 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $175,000
- Household income
- $41,977
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 37.2
Aztec is a city of 6,201 people in San Juan County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $175,000, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for young professionals than 80% of New Mexico towns, more vibrant than 80% of New Mexico towns, easier by car than 73% of New Mexico towns.
How Aztec ranks
Percentile among New Mexico towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Mexico towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Aztec is worth $175,000, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $41,977, which is more affordable than 25% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $629 a month. 63.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Aztec | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $175,000 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $629 | $916 |
| Median household income | $41,977 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 63.3% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Aztec
| People | Aztec | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.7% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.9% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.0% | 82.9% |
Weather in Aztec
July highs average 93.9°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 10.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.9 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 61 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 158 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Aztec since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an F0, struck on May 28, 1963 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 28, 1963.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on October 12, 2012.
Severe weather in San Juan County since 1996
San Juan County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 26, 2026 | Flood | EM-3660: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 20, 2024 | Fire | DR-4795: South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2013 | Flood | DR-4152: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in San Juan County
San Juan County had 46,650 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,008 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Aztec itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Aztec
7 public schools with 2,522 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| AZTEC HIGH | 9-12 | 692 | 17.7 |
| C.V. KOOGLER MIDDLE | 6-8 | 519 | 14.8 |
| LYDIA RIPPEY ELEMENTARY | PK-3 | 355 | 13.7 |
| MCCOY AVENUE ELEMENTARY | PK-3 | 354 | 13.1 |
| PARK AVENUE ELEMENTARY | 4-5 | 342 | 17.1 |
| MOSAIC ACADEMY CHARTER (charter) | K-8 | 180 | 20.0 |
| VISTA NUEVA HIGH | 9-12 | 80 | 16.0 |
Towns near Aztec
- Bloomfield, NM5.0 mi · 7,421 people · home $161,200
- Crouch Mesa, NM7.9 mi · 5,257 people · home $89,200
- Lee Acres, NM9.2 mi · 4,170 people · home $187,400
- West Hammond, NM10.1 mi · 2,724 people · home $209,300
- Farmington, NM12.4 mi · 46,624 people · home $233,000
Aztec questions
Is Aztec, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Aztec scores better for retirees than 52% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 28%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in Aztec?
The median owner-occupied home in Aztec is valued at $175,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,977, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $629 a month.
What is the weather like in Aztec?
July highs average 93.9°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.1 inches of precipitation a year and 10.9 inches of snow.
Does Aztec get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Aztec since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on May 28, 1963. The typical New Mexico town has had 3.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)