Neighbors 10 Years Before?

You've found your ancestor in the 1830 census, but cannot find him in earlier enumerations--or the name is common you cannot be certain it is him. Try looking for his 1830 neighbors in the 1820 census. Perhaps they had moved together to the location there were living at in 1830. Some of your ancestors 1830 neighbors might have been his 1820 neighbors as well.