While you're out scouting, you may want to note elevation changes and inclines. When I first started commuting, I went only through residential neighborhoods to avoid a main street that has a street car running on it (street speed limit 25 MPH mostly commercial). However, I soon got tired of the route because I had to climb about 100 ft up along the side of a hill just to go back down about 1/2 mi away from my destination. That was on top of a 100 ft climb over 1.5 mi.

I later used the street with the street cars because it went along the base of that hill and was basically flat. Elevation change was about 150 ft up over a distance of 3 miles or so. Lots more traffic on 1.3mi, vehicular and pedestrian, due to commercial strip and bordering residential areas and light rail for about 1.5mi but it was a much easier ride.