I am not really sure what you need to know. I am not a whiz at calculating ratios, etc. But, I live in a hilly area, too, with mostly shorter, steep climbs, as opposed to long (like 5-10 mile) more gradual climbs. I routinely ride up 10-12% grades on almost every ride.
I started out with a triple that had an 11-25 rear cassette and when I moved to my current house, which is on a lot with a 15% grade driveway, on a 10% grade street, I got a 12-27. That was 6 years ago. DH just put a new cassette with a 28 on the rear today, as he did the spring maintenance. Of course, you might be a lot younger than me, as I am closer to 60 than 50. I am a pretty good climber in that I can get up almost anything, but I do it slowly, especially on longer very steep climbs. I'd rather go 3-4 mph than walk...
What I don't like about the compact is that it is missing the cog (the 16) that is my "sweet spot" for riding on flats. The gears that are the closest ratio either feel too easy or too hard. I've been riding the bike with the compact all winter (well, not tons of outdoor riding) and basically, I decided to toughen up and use the harder gear. It feels better, but my speed is definitely slower on this bike and I am not that fast to begin with! However, since this is the bike I will be using for traveling, sometimes to places with big climbs, I like the idea of the lower overall gears to lessen fatigue, especially as I age.