Whereabouts in Cheshire do you want to be? Good for M6, M62, Airports, Manchester, Chester, Liverpool etc. Are well-regarded secondary schools important, do you want urban or rural etc...
Winsford is cheap and in my view not all that attractive to an outsider. Altrincham is more upmarket, much better schooling, good links with Manchester, but the centre is not what it was, despite recent attempts to inject a bit of life/money. Altrincham is very overpriced if you don't want Trafford schools.
Bowdon, Hale and Bramhall are upmarket suburbia (Bramhall less so than the other two). Hale is very Range Rover Sport HSE/sunglasses indoors/high life on credit cards, but has very pleasant residential areas and a great position for motorways, airport, rail > Manc, short walk to Alt for tram.
If you want Trafford schools but can't afford Hale/Bowdon then you're likely to look at Timperley/Sale. You wouldn't choose them if not for the schools.
Knutsford is an upmarket, smart, attractive small town with Tatton Park (deer etc). Great for the M6, good for the airport but on the slow non-electrified Manchester-Chester train line. It is not a good location if you need mainline rail. It sits under the flight path - has a fair bit in common with Richmond although bigger.
Wilmslow, Bollington, Alderley Edge, Prestbury, Poynton are all considered desirable areas north of the A537 and east of the M6. Whether they appeal will depend on your priorities.
Appleton & Grappenhall South of Warrington are well-regarded. The main downside is that your local town in Warrington which is not as well thought of..
Plenty of nice places South of those I've mentioned (Holmes Chapel, Nantwich) as well as West of the M6 (around Delamere, Tarporley, Tattenhall etc) but it all depends what you are looking for and in which area.