If you’re outfitting a high-traffic downtown corridor, I’d lean toward a well-built metal bench over concrete for long-term durability. Concrete is tough in compression and has a heavy, vandal-resistant presence, but years of hard urban use tend to punish it with cracks, chips, stains, and water absorption that are expensive to repair.
In a busy downtown setting, benches take abuse well beyond normal sitting: skateboard edges, bike locks, shopping carts, delivery dollies, freeze-thaw cycles, de-icing salt, and occasional graffiti. A powder-coated cast aluminum, galvanized steel, or stainless steel bench handles impact better because metal can flex slightly and resist chipping. Concrete is brittle by comparison. Once a corner chips or a surface crack opens up, water gets in, freezes, and the damage spreads quickly.
Weather and maintenance also favor metal. Concrete is porous, so it absorbs moisture and road salt, which can lead to scaling and internal rebar corrosion. Sealers help, but they need regular reapplication. Metal with a quality coating is easier to clean, and graffiti typically comes off faster on a coated metal surface than on raw or even sealed concrete. If a metal slat or armrest is damaged, you can often replace just that component instead of tearing out the whole bench.
That said, concrete is not a bad material for every situation. It is massive, hard to steal, and can work well in plazas or transit stops if you specify high-quality precast concrete with a durable sealer and anti-graffiti coating. But over a 10- to 20-year life cycle in a high-traffic downtown area, metal usually needs fewer repairs, keeps its appearance better, and gives you more flexibility in design and replacement parts.
So my practical recommendation is to choose galvanized or stainless steel with a powder-coated finish, tamper-resistant hardware, and a design that does not trap water. If you go with concrete, budget for sealing, patching, and coating touch-ups. Both materials can last, but metal is generally the lower-maintenance and more durable long-term option for busy urban streets.