<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 031
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK NEW YORK TAX-FREE INCOME FUND - CLASS A
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       53,723,645
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      58,736,526
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,320,299
<ASSETS-OTHER>                               1,609,607
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              61,666,432
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                     3,397,212
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       72,461
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          3,469,673
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    53,051,222
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        4,148,992
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        4,416,264
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       15,483
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        116,757
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     5,013,297
<NET-ASSETS>                                58,196,759
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            3,412,663
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 427,487
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      2,985,176
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       614,815
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    1,108,414
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        4,708,405
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    2,827,611
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        459,988
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    891,788
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            164,528
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       1,697,058
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         32,712
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (506,675)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          286,183
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                427,487
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        53,428,460
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            12.25
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.66
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.37
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.66)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.62
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.70
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>