A small house figures as generally popular (6)
I believe the answer is:
public
'popular' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for public that I've seen before include "State-owned; in the open" , "Accessible to all" , "Unconcealed" , "Members of the community in general" , "well known" .)