A packet processor includes a forwarding table configured to store address prefixes and a search engine configured to receive a packet and to search the forwarding table. The search engine includes a set bit counter configured to receive an address of the packet, to count set bits of a first bit vector associated with the packet, and to output a number of the set bits. A next hop table is configured to store a next hop pointer. A next bucket pointer receives the number of set bits and outputs one of the next hop pointers and the next bucket pointer based on the number of set bits.