Locations for Paddington commute

[StarkintheSouth]

Hi all- currently looking to move from our tiny Essex home to somewhere with a bit more space and looking for inspiration for locations to consider! We love West Essex but our budget (approx £650k for good sized 3 bed) probably won’t let us upgrade where we are. We need access to trains into London for work and we need to be near good schools. Connections to Paddington or the Elizabeth line a bonus.We’d like to stay north of London and market towns seem to be the sort of environment we find appealing! Places we’ve liked so far are Saffron Walden and Hitchin, although we’ve not spent much time there so not wedded to them.
just wondering if anyone has any inspiration or recommendations- we’re so lost trying to find something that works and we really need to get cracking. Any help much appreciated!

Connections to Paddington are west of London not north of London.

Places like Reading, Twyford and Maidenhead have direct trains to Paddington and are on the Elizabeth line.

Thank you and North was rather general - I meant also roughly north west and north east of London, we have family in northern England so want to am bearing that in mind.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/164124602

Agree with places like Twyford maidenhead etc worth a look

Reading will get you to Paddington with no trouble at all and has cross-country trains to the North.