One of the cardinal rules that most new genealogists are given when working with census records is, "Make note of surrounding families on the census population schedules." While you may have been told to note a different number of families on either side of your family, such as two, four, six, or some other number, I heartily agree with this strategy.
Remind people to look at the other names on registers such as birth and deaths in the probate courts, too. I have found some of my relatives who are not related but happen to be on the same sheets in the register books. Just a coincidence but worth glancing through on the off chance of a discovery.