<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000758003
<NAME> T.ROWE PRICE TAX-FREE HIGH YIELD FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-28-2001
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1081323
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1080155
<RECEIVABLES> 18409
<ASSETS-OTHER> 98
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1098662
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 4029
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3015
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 7044
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1120779
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 95027
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 96363
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 97
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (27779)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (1479)
<NET-ASSETS> 1091618
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 35903
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 3982
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 31921
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (5361)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 31803
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 58363
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (31967)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 6527
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (9765)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1902
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 11626
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 143
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (22418)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3335
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 3983
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1075358
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.21
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.34
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.28
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.34)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.49
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.73
</TABLE>
