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Oh, boy, are you in for a load of mail! This is almost as big a draw as 'best tire', or 'best motor oil'!
Trouble is, just like tires (and somewhat lesser, motor oils), different examples are designed for different priorities, and it would be useful if you gave us more information about your needs. You did say mostly Local Driving and rarely Highway. Some other things to specify: how do you feel about dust, noise, wear (and wear on the rotors, a separate issue), response time when wet (it is often rainy where you are), etc.
Generally, Volvo pads are good for stopping, especially stopping one time (fade not an issue) and stopping in wet weather; but they're really very dusty (lots of black dust over (especially) the front wheels).
I use PBR Deluxe (from IPD) -- good high speed fade resistant, less dust than Volvo's, but a perceptible hesitation when wet (despite using slotted rotors).
There are other good ones (in one or more ways) that I'm thinking of trying next time I change pads and rotors -- e.g., EBC's "Green Stuff", even though they're more abrasive on rotors (won't last as long).
A tip: I wouldn't recommend changing pad formulations without also changing rotors (and I would be sure to learn about proper "break in" of new pads and rotors, too). The reason is that properly broken-in pads leave a residue of pad material on the rotors, and I don't know how these interact between different pad materials, so I'd prefer to start with "virgin" rotor surfaces.
Good luck.
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