<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FRANKLIN
TAX-FREE TRUST AUGUST 31, 2000 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIR
ETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 24
<NAME> FRANKLIN KENTUCKY TAX-FREE INCOME FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-28-2001
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 69,149,821
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 68,941,616
<RECEIVABLES> 1,022,537
<ASSETS-OTHER> 261,170
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 70,225,323
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 353,861
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 353,861
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 71,320,087
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 6,470,498
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 6,136,727
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (85,680)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (1,154,741)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (208,205)
<NET-ASSETS> 69,871,461
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,945,508
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (150,166)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1,795,342
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (28,146)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2,430,998
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 4,198,194
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1,827,130)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 733,048
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (478,754)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 79,476
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5,907,114
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (53,893)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (1,126,595)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (207,372)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (270,676)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 66,068,722
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.420
<PER-SHARE-NII> .290<F1>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.380
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.290)<F2>
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.800
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .450<F3>
<FN>
<F1>BASED ON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING.
<F2>INCLUDES DISTRIBUTIONS IN EXCESS OF NET INVESTMENT INCOME IN THE AMOUNT OF $.005.
<F3>ANNUALIZED; EXPENSES EXCLUDING WAIVER AND PAYMENT BY AFFILIATES .820%.
</FN>
</TABLE>
