I was born and raised in rural Walton County, FL. I count DeFuniak Springs as my home town tho we lived around 5 miles SW.
I think any area along I-10 and North to the Alabama line and the small towns along Hwy. 90 are perfect. You are close enough to the beaches to visit whenever you want and the real estate is far more reasonable.
Also the area is more conservative than Mississippi. Florida’s First Congressional District has been called the most conservative in the nation.
I drive back and forth through DeFuniak Springs 2-4 times annually on the way to 30A like many family folks throughout mid south
We went to St George last July and I loved it too....the Jerusalem of raw oysters in Appalachacola
I went to one year my senior year.....to Fairhope and lived at point clear
I love it.....being from Deep South I like moss and gulf air