<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 021
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK MASSACHUSETTS TAX-FREE INCOME FUND - CLASS A
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       51,967,425
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      55,490,045
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,020,198
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 274,490
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              56,784,733
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      113,710
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            113,710
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    53,755,807
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        4,476,959
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        4,731,610
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       18,671
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      (627,734)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     3,524,279
<NET-ASSETS>                                56,671,023
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            3,530,125
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 399,963
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      3,130,162
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       (9,552)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    2,137,301
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        5,257,911
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    3,076,399
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        465,463
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    890,320
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            170,206
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       1,502,261
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          5,145
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                   (618,275)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          281,471
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                622,894
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        55,299,345
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.66
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.66
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.46
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.66)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.12
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.71
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>