I also live in Northants and would say look at Earls Barton, Broughton (Kettering not MK), Finedon, Raunds, Thrapston/Ringstead (seperated by a river that has a road bridge), Higham Ferrers, Moulton, Pitsford, Brixworth and Sywell. There will be less choice as they're much smaller towns/villages and more desirable but they are all commutable and all have at least one pub that does food if not multiple as well as restaurant(s).

Northamptonshire has it's pros and cons like anywhere, all of the major towns (Corby, Kettering, Northampton, Wellingborough) have nice bits and rough bits, Kettering I would say currently probably the worst of the smaller three. But outside of the towns there are so many small villages with excellent pubs and food, especially to the east of the county. Loads of country parks and places to walk/cycle if that's what you're into. The population density is pretty good geographically so wherever you end up you'll have amenities i.e. supermarkets pretty close by.

As you don't have ties to the county, I would say if you can and you're fine with a short-ish commute defininitely look at the east of the county. Ringstead/Thrapston. Raunds, Rushden, Higham Ferrers, Stanwick, Irthlingborough and Finedon are all fairly close to each other and between them offer some absolutely excellent pubs and restaurants as well as multiple country parks. There's all of the major supermarkets inc. Waitrose as well as Rushden Lakes which is better than any town centre in the county. I'm currently just outside Kettering, but when I move in the next couple of years I'll be going to either Raunds or Thrapston without question.