<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-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       52,909,010
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      55,706,599
<RECEIVABLES>                                  816,968
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                   2,012
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              56,525,579
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      233,969
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            233,969
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    54,028,898
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        4,642,176
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        4,731,610
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        4,189
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        539,264
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     2,797,787
<NET-ASSETS>                                56,291,610
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            1,775,969
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 197,237
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      1,578,732
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        79,011
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    1,410,809
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        3,068,552
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    1,573,965
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        299,955
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    477,397
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             88,008
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       1,122,848
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          5,145
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                      618,275
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          140,333
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                307,944
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        56,066,414
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.66
<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>                              11.98
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.71
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>