<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000795196 <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK REALTY INCOME FUND LIMITED PARTNERSHIP <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 4,777,859 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 265,487 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 5,043,346 <PP&E> 24,189,939 <DEPRECIATION> 4,717,074 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 24,935,071 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 520,259 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 24,414,812 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 24,935,071 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,257,302 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 601,808 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 603,270 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,052,224 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,052,224 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,052,224 <EPS-PRIMARY> 11.78 <EPS-DILUTED> 11.78