<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 031
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK NEW YORK 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>                       52,706,595
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      54,674,401
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,073,048
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 549,524
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                         1,967,806
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              56,296,973
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       68,222
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             68,222
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    54,779,835
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        4,753,390
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        4,694,309
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       15,420
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      (572,855)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     2,006,351
<NET-ASSETS>                                56,228,751
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            3,519,678
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 395,698
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      3,123,980
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     (200,732)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                     (40,997)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        2,882,251
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    3,123,980
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        555,889
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    685,056
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            188,249
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         475,784
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          8,092
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (364,795)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          282,847
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                646,699
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        56,724,297
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.88
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .66
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.05)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.66)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.83
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.70
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>