<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000313136
<NAME> BABSON TAX-FREE FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> PORTFOLIO L - LONGER TERM
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 23865
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 23893
<RECEIVABLES> 397
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 24290
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 124
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 124
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 24038
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2805
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 100
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 28
<NET-ASSETS> 24166
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1357
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 248
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1109
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 173
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (825)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 457
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1109)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (229)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2837
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (4475)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 783
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (1736)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 248
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1357
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 248
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 24166
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.91
<PER-SHARE-NII> .39
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.21)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.39)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.08)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.62
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.01
</TABLE>