<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000795196 <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK REALTY INCOME FUND LIMITED PARTNERSHIP <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 2,097,685 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 184,774 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 4,961,058 <PP&E> 24,189,939 <DEPRECIATION> 4,387,217 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 25,182,052 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 488,570 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 24,693,482 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 25,182,052 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 723,119 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 232,193 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 202,402 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 288,524 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 288,524 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 288,524 <EPS-PRIMARY> 3.25 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.25