How do you think it compares?

No comparison!
I was born in Sheffield and lived there till I I was 24, I moved to Manchester for the next 29 years.
Sheffield was always years behind, mainly I think to the lack of money, lack of jobs after the downfall of the steel works, lack of investment and lack of new jobs coming into the city.
Greater Manchester is a much larger area, admittedly with it's problem areas, but Manchester does have very large universities which brings in lots of overseas students, it also attracts money and businesses into the area.
My own kids thought Sheffield was alway at least 5 years behind in the fashion stakes.
Having said all that, I much prefer Sheffield to Manchester.
Marion

I am a born and bred Sheffielder. Lived in North Manchester briefly. Well 10 months. I couldn't stand being away from Hendersons Relish, Hillsborough on a match day, the friendly people of Sheffield.
Manchester whilst admittedly a larger conurbation and ahead in terms of redevelopment had the most arrogant population I have ever come across.
Mancunians have admitted as much to me. There are far more ignorant percentage of people in Manchester/Greater Manc than Sheffield.
Sheffield is slowly redeveloping. The cranes in the city centre remind me of Manchester in the late 90s pre Commonwealth Games.
All that Sheffield needs now is a decent Wednesday team its own Yorkshire TV news programme (not some crappy Lincoln effort) and First Group out of the city.

I lived in North Manchester for 29 years, must admit I never found them arogant, nosey may be.
I worked in North Salford, just up the road from Strangeways, and found the families there really welcoming, no nonsense type of people, that was back in the 70's, it's all changed now, lots of redeveloping and the old families moved out, just like Sheffield really!