Was the host you used previously using cpanel, or some other (proprietary?) admin interface?
I've been relatively happy with Hawkhost... also tried out HostGator a couple years ago (last time I switched/explored switching hosts) and they seemed good but had a file number limitation on their packages that was problematic to my specific circumstances.
If I were starting from scratch without a ton of experience/knowledge, I would find a host using cpanel that offers automated install of the Wordpress framework (Hawkhost uses Softaculous--it's really slick to get a site set up and also sends email reminders for updates). Once you have Wordpress up and running, all the site creation/admin is done through the Wordpress admin interface (which is fairly intuitive and well-documented) and there are a good selection of templates--both free and paid--to get a site style and appearance that you like.
If your prior host used Cpanel and you were still frustrated with that, it may be worth exploring a full-service local company to set up and/or admin your site.
