IMLE (about the same TT as you, learnt on 152s, fly 172s now) the 172 is less forgiving of being landed too fast than the 152, but dead easy once you get the speed right. Other than that it seems to fly pretty much the same.
New 172s are faster and more comfortable than old 152s; I've only done a couple of flights in old 172s so can't really comment usefully, but the ones I flew went about the same speed as the 152. Oh, and a 172 with two full-size adults in it will go a lot further on maximum legal fuel load than a 152 (if you're bothered about being legal with MAUW, that is). Burns more per hour, of course.
(I don't know anything about the PA28-181 Archer.)