In reply to Phil4000: I'm just south of Ripon and I'd be looking out Richmond/Bedale/masham way. Although it is true that the various barracks do influence the feel of the towns.
There is very little property on the moors and what there is tends to be quite expensive.
Grammar schools - meh! Extremely socially divisive - the 'intelligence test' entrance exam just means that there is a nice sideline for tutors getting mummy's little darlings through the exams. Fortunately all the schools around us are pretty good. Plenty of people choose to send kids to other schools rather than Ripon or Harrogate grammar.
Those pretty villages along the A172/A19 do suffer a surprising amount of crime from Teesside as well as often being commuter dormitories. Rural North Yorks is quite right wing in all sorts of ways; village life isn't necessarily all that.
Best thing is for you to spend some time looking around. Id want to be somewhere with a bit of life and culture.