<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 021
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK MASSACHUSETTS TAX-FREE INCOME FUND - CLASS A
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       52,881,074
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      57,719,317
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,159,438
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  42,341
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              58,921,096
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      758,906
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            758,906
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    53,732,428
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        4,364,953
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        4,476,959
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        9,158
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      (394,923)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     4,815,527
<NET-ASSETS>                                58,162,190
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            1,729,390
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 209,603
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      1,519,787
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       232,811
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    1,291,248
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        3,043,846
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    1,459,058
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        228,091
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    418,889
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             78,792
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       1,491,167
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         18,671
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (627,734)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          142,269
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                212,327
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        54,376,048
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            12.12
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.33
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.32
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.33)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.44
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.71
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>