<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000795196 <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK REALTY INCOME FUND LIMITED PARTNERSHIP <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 2,039,038 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 192,369 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 4,910,006 <PP&E> 24,189,939 <DEPRECIATION> 4,552,146 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 24,963,374 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 435,134 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 24,528,240 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 24,963,374 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,486,198 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 443,596 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 398,135 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 644,467 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 644,467 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 644,467 <EPS-PRIMARY> 7.23 <EPS-DILUTED> 7.23