Maybe browse around Strava.com to see if any other locals commute or ride along the routes you're thinking of using. I only live 5 miles from work but there's about 500ft of elevation between the two and a mile long hill with 10% grade. I looked at the maps on Strava and found that many riders take that hill, but I need to be comfortable hitting speeds of 30-40mph on a bike with cars coasting up to 50 (limit is 35 on the stretch). Armed with that I decided I need to do some climbing training (if I want to get home!) and really learn handling on my road bike at high speeds before I go barreling downhill to work.