The question was "Easiest State to get ID in?" I don't need to have "applied for benefits or "gotten an id" in San Francisco". I am a resident of Massachusetts, was born there & most likely will always have this listed as my home state. My daughter has state health insurance, we get ebt/snap & my wife receives ssi. I was able to apply & receive them off & on for the last 11 years since I have the right documentation. All of those benefits are available in every state in the US. Since its easier to transfer them then to apply for them new If we moved I could swap our benefits easy enough.
I can travel to any state I want, I do & have. This year is up above 30k miles in Canada & US , crossing the Mississippi river 6 times, down to Texas & back along gulf coast, east coast/Midwest & 2 trips thru Canada(without a passport). My ass ridden more miles than enough to know that bringing a valid ID with you is a hell of a lot smarter than trying to obtain one on the road.
I am not ashamed of having a valid ID & a home state, or having the common sense & all of the supporting documents needed to get another Id in any state I need.
I am unsure why you SF is the easiest? Since you thought the price was 45 dollars & San Fran is part of the State of Cali. The Id costs the same in every city of that state!! The document requirements are exactly the same but often people will produce a variety of to get an ID. It costs $28 or $8 if you are low income, disabled etc, not $45!!!! The cost is the least of all problems. Everyone can get $8-$25 bucks from somewhere.
The trick to getting anything done quickly & efficiently with the government is having as much supporting documents as possible. There is no trick, cheat or easier solution around it. The state where you one was born will most likely be the easiest to obtain a copy of your birth cert since it is a really important document in all aspects of life.
Residency is also a part of getting an ID. Some states will allow a Post office (NH) box listed on your ID but most don't.