Akron, OH vs. Erie, PA (living, cost, state, place)

[jFug]

Both rust belt cities with declining populations and, in the past, both heavy manufacturing centers. By city proper population, Akron is about 2x larger than Erie, but when it comes to MSA size, Akron has around 500,000 more people. Still, which city wins in the following categories:

-Cost of living
-Quality of life
-Downtown
-Economic development
-Transportation (airports, highways, etc.)
-Arts, entertainment, shopping, zoos, parks, etc.
-Food
-Tourism

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Here's my opinions:
-Cost of living: Pretty equal

-Quality of life: Certainly depends on what neighborhoods your talking about in Akron or Erie, but Akron is close to Cleveland and Erie has the lake/peninsula

-Downtown: Haven't been to downtown Akron much but Erie's State Street is pretty busy during the day and on weekend nights. We have a few new higher class clubs and restaurants and are getting two new hotels on the bayfront.

-Economic development: I'd say Erie wins. Go downtown or the bayfront and you will see lots of construction. Hotels, façade revitalizations, new boutique shops and the much anticipated Harbor Place. Erie has come along way in the last 10 years with a convention center, Bayfront Sheraton, the revitalization of the Erie Insurance Arena, construction of downtown townhouses, etc.

-Transportation: Akron by a long shot. CAK airport is served by the big 4 airlines; together they fly to 15+ destinations. ERI only flies to 3 hubs. Erie is well connected to I-79 and I-90. Akron has I-76 and I-77.

-Arts, etc.: I'd say both cities are pretty equal in this regard....although Akron may have a slight edge with it's proximity to Cleveland. Erie has Presque isle, though.

-Food: Probably Akron, if only because it's larger.

-Tourism: Erie definitely. Probably one of the only growing industries in the city. As stated previously the area is seeing a lot of hotel construction as well as a new shopping/retail/office development on the east bayfront. During the summer (May-Sep), the city is booming with tourists.