I lived there for 10 years, left 15 years ago, family still there though.
For in MK Great Linford would be my recommendation, as close to the old village centre as possible, Nags Head is a nice pub, close to Newport Pagnall for a decent curry at the Mysore and easy distance of the centre (walkable on a good day).
Bow Brickhill is nice, but expensive.
I’d move back to the area but not onto one of the big estates (I’ve lived in Heelands, Conniburrow and Bradwell Common…), it would have to be one of the villages on the outskirts like Bow Brickhill, Castlethorpe, Hanslope, Cosgrove etc