<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 021
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK MASSACHUSETTS TAX-FREE INCOME FUND
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       52,629,498
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      54,016,278
<RECEIVABLES>                                  837,238
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 379,776
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                         1,386,780
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              55,233,292
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                           576
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       63,954
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             64,530
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    54,394,914
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        4,731,610
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        4,627,583
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        5,145
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      (618,275)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     1,386,978
<NET-ASSETS>                                55,168,762
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            3,485,882
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 391,192
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      3,094,690
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        79,113
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    (573,560)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        2,600,243
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    3,094,690
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        664,442
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    736,253
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            175,838
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        (56,933)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          1,994
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (694,237)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          279,114
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                658,660
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        55,975,734
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.76
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.65
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.10)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.65)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.66
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.70
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>