Aztec has a typical southwestern cool semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) characterised by hot summers, chilly though not severe winters, and large diurnal temperature variation throughout the year.

Summers are generally hot to sweltering by afternoon, though with pleasant mornings and low humidity.

Winter afternoons, though, remain relatively mild: only two afternoons stay below freezing during an average year, although two mornings during an average winter fall to or below 0 °F or −18 °C, and 153 mornings fall to or below freezing.

Due to mountain rain shadow effects, precipitation is generally low, especially during the early summer period between April and June.

Aztec is part of the Farmington, New Mexico Metropolitan Statistical Area.

27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

[14] As of 2016, Aztec had 16 park and special use areas totalling of 153.5 acres (62.1 ha), and 15.6 km (9.7 mi) of pedestrian trails.

[15] The City of Aztec practices a commission-manager form of government as established in the New Mexico state statutes.

The city owns a short segment of 69 kV transmission line within its service territory, and it receives all its electricity through a single substation.

As of 2023, the city purchased all its energy requirements from contracts with the Western Area Power Association and the Public Service Company of New Mexico.