<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 031
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK NEW YORK 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>                       51,913,970
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      55,818,437
<RECEIVABLES>                                  828,770
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                   3,030
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              56,650,237
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      150,536
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            150,536
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    53,068,781
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        4,416,264
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        4,753,390
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       32,712
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                     (506,675)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     3,904,883
<NET-ASSETS>                                56,499,701
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            3,600,828
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 407,975
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      3,192,853
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        82,733
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    1,898,532
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        5,174,118
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    3,142,726
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        513,776
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                (1,036,573)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            185,671
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         270,950
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         15,420
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (572,855)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          286,258
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                636,463
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        56,054,619
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.83
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.67
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.42
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.67)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.25
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.71
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>