
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM COMBINED
BALANCE SHEET AS MARCH 31, 1997 AND THE COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 OF BOSTON PROPERTIES, INC. AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                           2,980
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   60,083
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                       1,048,210
<DEPRECIATION>                                 270,077
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 900,063
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                      1,418,488
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                    (575,694)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   900,063
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                63,455
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              27,309
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    222
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                        96
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
        

</TABLE>
