<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 021
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK MASSACHUSETTS 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>                       58,223,788
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      63,747,530
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,022,088
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  39,604
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              64,809,222
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       373,330
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      102,265
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            475,595
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    59,080,925
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        4,613,097
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        4,476,959
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        2,838
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      (291,631)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     5,541,495
<NET-ASSETS>                                64,333,627
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            3,536,861
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 441,275
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      3,095,586
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       335,961
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    2,017,216
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        5,448,763
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    2,934,706
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        697,518
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    716,685
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            155,305
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       7,662,604
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         18,671
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (627,734)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          295,608
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                441,275
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        55,203,932
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            12.12
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.66
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.48
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.66)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.60
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.71
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>