This study investigates the age-specific responses of nasal epithelial cells (NECs) to SARS-CoV-2 infection, focusing on children (<12 years), adults (30–50 years), and older adults (>70 years). Key findings include: 1. **Cell Tropism and Expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2**: SARS-CoV-2 shows different tropism in nasal epithelial cells across age groups. Ciliated cells are viral replication centers in all age groups, while a distinct goblet inflammatory subtype emerges in infected pediatric cultures and shows high expression of interferon-stimulated genes with incomplete viral replication. 2. **Older Adults and Basaloid-like Cells**: In older adult cultures, there is a proportional increase in basaloid-like cells, which facilitate viral spread and are associated with altered epithelial repair pathways. These cells are characterized by markers of tissue injury and fibrosis. 3. **In Vivo Validation**: The in vitro findings are validated using integrated datasets from in vivo COVID-19 studies, confirming the induction of age-specific cell states in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. 4. **Age-Specific Effects**: Paediatric cultures exhibit a strong early interferon response, leading to incomplete viral replication. In contrast, older adult cultures produce more infectious viruses and show increased cell shedding, thinning, and leakiness. Wounding cultures results in increased expression of basaloid-like 2 cell markers, promoting viral spread and enhancing infectious viral yield. 5. **Discussion**: The study highlights age-dependent nuances in the upper airway and their impact on SARS-CoV-2 infection. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection across different ages, emphasizing the role of impaired repair processes in older individuals.This study investigates the age-specific responses of nasal epithelial cells (NECs) to SARS-CoV-2 infection, focusing on children (<12 years), adults (30–50 years), and older adults (>70 years). Key findings include: 1. **Cell Tropism and Expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2**: SARS-CoV-2 shows different tropism in nasal epithelial cells across age groups. Ciliated cells are viral replication centers in all age groups, while a distinct goblet inflammatory subtype emerges in infected pediatric cultures and shows high expression of interferon-stimulated genes with incomplete viral replication. 2. **Older Adults and Basaloid-like Cells**: In older adult cultures, there is a proportional increase in basaloid-like cells, which facilitate viral spread and are associated with altered epithelial repair pathways. These cells are characterized by markers of tissue injury and fibrosis. 3. **In Vivo Validation**: The in vitro findings are validated using integrated datasets from in vivo COVID-19 studies, confirming the induction of age-specific cell states in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. 4. **Age-Specific Effects**: Paediatric cultures exhibit a strong early interferon response, leading to incomplete viral replication. In contrast, older adult cultures produce more infectious viruses and show increased cell shedding, thinning, and leakiness. Wounding cultures results in increased expression of basaloid-like 2 cell markers, promoting viral spread and enhancing infectious viral yield. 5. **Discussion**: The study highlights age-dependent nuances in the upper airway and their impact on SARS-CoV-2 infection. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection across different ages, emphasizing the role of impaired repair processes in older individuals.