<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000889519
<NAME> VANGUARD BALANCED INDEX FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<CURRENCY> US
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 2854378
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 3572031
<RECEIVABLES> 10328
<ASSETS-OTHER> 665
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3583024
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 29309
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 10679
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 39988
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 2817802
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 175828
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 154707
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 3132
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 4981
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 717121
<NET-ASSETS> 3543036
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 10280
<INTEREST-INCOME> 47689
<OTHER-INCOME> 463
<EXPENSES-NET> 3663
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 54769
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 6388
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (18758)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 42399
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 50839
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 1646
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 38302
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 19578
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2397
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 414558
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 239
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 798
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 86
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 3678
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 3333657
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 20.22
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.33
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.09)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.30
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.01
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 20.15
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.22
</TABLE>
