<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000737800
<NAME> LORD ABBETT TAX-FREE INCOME FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 101
<NAME> CALIFORNIA FUND - CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 196,242,263
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 197,734,072
<RECEIVABLES> 7,648,730
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3,290,415
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 208,673,217
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 7,519,919
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,419,728
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 8,939,648
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 221,909,374
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 18,733,874
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 20,393,759
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (39,589)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (23,628,025)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 1,491,809
<NET-ASSETS> 188,591,664
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 6,387,581
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 993,417
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,394,164
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (4,834,545)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2,477,687
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 3,037,306
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (5,023,096)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 482,205
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2,379,643)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 237,553
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (20,146,592)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (18,793,480)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (149,904)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 503,826
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 993,417
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 192,317,859
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.16
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.26
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.09)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.26)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.07
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.47
</TABLE>